| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Archipelago | Tonga Islands |
| Area | 259 km2 (100 sq mi) |
| Country | |
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Tonga
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| Largest city | Nukuʻalofa (pop. 22,400) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 71,260 (as of 2006) |
| Density | 273.57 /km2 (708.54 /sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | Tongan (majority), European, Chinese, Pacific Islanders. |
Tongatapu is the main island of the Kingdom of Tonga and the location of its capital Nukuʻalofa. It is located in Tonga's southern island group, to which it gives its name, and is the country's most populous island, with approximately 71,260 residents (2006), 70.5% of the national population. Tongatapu is Tonga's centre of government and the seat of its monarchy.
Tongatapu, as a commercial and transport hub, has (led by Nukuʻalofa) experienced more rapid economic development than, as well as attracting many internal migrants from, the other islands of the Kingdom
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Tongatapu was discovered by Europeans on 20 January 1643 by Abel Janszoon Tasman commanding two ships, the Heemskerck and the Zeehaen commissioned by the Dutch East India Company of Batavia (Jakarta). The expedition's goals were to chart the unknown southern and eastern seas and to find a possible passage through the South Pacific and Indian Ocean providing a faster route to Chile. The expedition set sail from Batavia on 14 August 1642. Tasman named the island "t’ Eijlandt Amsterdam" (Amsterdam Island), because of its abundance of supplies.[1] This name is no longer used except by historians.
The earliest mention of Tongataboo was recorded by Captain Cook in 1777 as he wrote his memoirs for the Three Voyages Around the World, Volume 1.
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Article contribution by - Robert S