Disappointment Islands

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The Disappointment Islands (French: Îles du Désappointement) are a small group of coral atolls located in the northeastern part of the Tuamotu Archipelago. The atolls are Tepoto and Napuka. Often included with them is Puka-Puka, 180 miles (300 km) to their southeast. The islands are dry, and not especially conducive to human habitation.

[edit] Demographics

The Disappointment Islands are sparsely populated. The inhabitants are overwhelmingly native Polynesians. According to the 2002 census, the population of the islands is as follows:

Tepoto: 54

Napuka: 257

Puka-Puka: 197

[edit] History

The western Disappointment Islands, Tepoto and Napuka, were colonized by voyagers from the neighboring Tuamotus, but Puka-Puka was colonized by settlers from the Marquesas Islands, several hundred miles to the northeast.

The islands were given their name by Ferdinand Magellan, who could not find a water source there from which to replenish his ship's supplies, while en route to the Philippine Islands.