Tikehau
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Tikehau is a coral atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago. It is located in the Palliser group, the westernmost of the Tuamotus. The nearest atoll, Rangiroa lies only 12 km to the east. Mataiva, another atoll of the same group, is located 35 km (21 mi.) to the west.
The atoll's oval-shaped lagoon is 27 km long and 19 km wide. and is surrounded by an almost continuous coral reef. There is a great density of fish and other marine life in the lagoon which was studied by Jacques-Yves Cousteau.
The islands are covered with coconut palms, and support a population of 407 inhabitants. The main village is called Tuherahera. There are also tourist resorts on Tikehau.
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[edit] History
The native name of this island derives from "Tikahau", peace, to be at peace; the other name is Porutukai.
The first recorded European to arrive to Tikehau was by the Russian mariner Otto von Kotzebue. He called this atoll "Krusenstern Island", after Russian explorer Adam Johann von Krusenstern.
The Wilkes Expedition passed by this atoll on September 9 1839.
Tikehau has a territorial airport which was inaugurated in 1977.
On a visit in 1987 Jacques Cousteau's research group made a study of Tikehau's lagoon and they discovered that it contains a greater variety of fish species than any other place in French Polynesia.
[edit] Administration
Tikehau Atoll belongs to the commune of Rangiroa, which consists of 3 atolls (Rangiroa itself, Tikehau and Mataiva, and a separate island (Makatea).
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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