Disappointment Islands
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The Disappointment Islands (French: Îles du Désappointement) are a subgroup of the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. They are located towards the northeast, away from the main Tuamotu group.
The Disappointment Islands are a small group of coral atolls, which includes the atolls of Tepoto and Napuka. Puka-Puka, 180 miles (300 km) to their southeast, is often included in this subgroup.
These islands are dry, and not especially conducive to human habitation.
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[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] Administration
Administratively Tepoto Atoll belongs to the commune of Napuka, while Puka-Puka has its own commune.
[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.
It is said that these 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.
However, the first recorded European to reach Napuka Atoll was British explorer John Byron in 1765. He named Napuka and Tepoto "Disappointment Islands" because the natives were of a hostile disposition.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
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