Fangatau, or Nakai-erua,
is a small
atoll
An atoll () is a ring-shaped island, including a coral rim that encircles a lagoon partially or completely. There may be coral islands or cays on the rim. Atolls are located in warm tropical or subtropical oceans and seas where corals can gr ...
in the
Tuamotu
The Tuamotu Archipelago or the Tuamotu Islands (french: Îles Tuamotu, officially ) are a French Polynesian chain of just under 80 islands and atolls in the southern Pacific Ocean. They constitute the largest chain of atolls in the world, extendin ...
group in
French Polynesia
)Territorial motto: ( en, "Great Tahiti of the Golden Haze")
, anthem =
, song_type = Regional anthem
, song = " Ia Ora 'O Tahiti Nui"
, image_map = French Polynesia on the globe (French Polynesia centered).svg
, map_alt = Location of Frenc ...
. The nearest land is
Fakahina
Fakahina, or Kaīna, is a small atoll in the north of the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. The nearest land is Fangatau Atoll, located 72 km to the north-west. Fakahina's length is and its maximum width . It has a land area of and a la ...
Atoll, located 72 km to the ESE. This small atoll has an elongated shape. Its length is , maximum width . It has a total area of , land area 5.9 km
2. Its reef encloses its lagoon completely. Anchorage is difficult. Fangatau Atoll has 135 inhabitants (2017 census).
[Répartition de la population en Polynésie française en 2017]
, Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française Teana
Teana is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Potenza, in the southern Italian region of Basilicata.
The name Teana is a derivative of the Greek word "Theano", the wife of Pythagoras, the philosopher and mathematician. Local legend stat ...
is the main village.
History
The first recorded European to arrive at Fangatau was
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
n explorer
Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen
Fabian Gottlieb Thaddeus von Bellingshausen (russian: Фадде́й Фадде́евич Беллинсга́узен, translit=Faddéy Faddéevich Bellinsgáuzen; – ) was a Russian naval officer, cartographer and explorer, who ultimately ...
on the 10 July 1820 on ships ''Vostok'' and ''Mirni''. He named this atoll "Arakcheev". Fangatau was the home of Kamake an Iturangi, regarded by anthropologist
Kenneth Emory
Kenneth Pike Emory (November 23, 1897 – January 2, 1992) was an American anthropologist who played a key role in shaping modern anthropology in Oceania. In the tradition of A. L. Kroeber and other pioneering anthropologists who trained him, ...
as "the greatest Tuamotuan sage" he ever met.
Administration
The
commune
A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to:
Administrative-territorial entities
* Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township
** Communes of ...
of Fangatau consists of Fangatau Atoll, as well as the atoll and associated commune of
Fakahina
Fakahina, or Kaīna, is a small atoll in the north of the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. The nearest land is Fangatau Atoll, located 72 km to the north-west. Fakahina's length is and its maximum width . It has a land area of and a la ...
.
[Décret n°72-407 du 17 mai 1972 portant création de communes dans le territoire de la Polynésie française]
Légifrance Légifrance is the official website of the French government for the publication of legislation, regulations, and legal information. Access to the site is free.
Virtually complete, it presents or refers to all concerned institutions or administrati ...
The seat of the commune is the village
Teana
Teana is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Potenza, in the southern Italian region of Basilicata.
The name Teana is a derivative of the Greek word "Theano", the wife of Pythagoras, the philosopher and mathematician. Local legend stat ...
.
[
]
Transport
The atoll is served by the Fangatau Airport .
See also
* Fangatau Airport
References
Oceandots
External links
Communes of French Polynesia
Atolls of the Tuamotus
{{FrenchPolynesia-geo-stub