Motutunga

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Coordinates: 17°04′S 144°17′W / 17.067°S 144.283°W / -17.067; -144.283

Motutunga

NASA picture of Motutunga Atoll
Geography
Location Pacific Ocean
Coordinates 17°04′S 144°17′W / 17.067°S 144.283°W / -17.067; -144.283
Archipelago Tuamotus
Area 126 km2 (49 sq mi)  (lagoon)
1.38 km² (above water)
Country
Overseas collectivity  French Polynesia
Administrative subdivision Tuamotus
Commune Anaa
NASA picture of Motutunga Atoll.

Motutunga Atoll is an atoll of the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located 17 km to the east of Tahanea Atoll.

Motutunga Atoll is roughly triangular in shape. It measures 15 km in length with a maximum width of 14 km. The reef fringing the atoll is continuous. There are no deep, navigable passes to reach the lagoon. Motutunga's lagoon has a surface of 126 km².

Motutunga is uninhabited.

History

Motutunga Atoll was first sighted by James Cook on 13 August 1773 who named it Adventure, after the name of his own ship.[1]

Spanish navigator Domingo de Boenechea sighted Motutunga on 9 November 1774 on ship Aguila. He named this atoll San Blas[2][3]

Administration

Motutunga belongs to the commune of Anaa that also includes the associated commune of Faaite with the atoll of Faaite and the uninhabited atolls of Tahanea and Motutunga.

References

  1. ↑ Sharp, Andrew, The discovery of the Pacific Islands, Oxford 1960 p.129
  2. ↑ Langdon, Robert. The lost caravel Sidney, 1975 p.129.
  3. ↑ Sharp, Andrew, The discovery of the Pacific Islands, Oxford 1960 p.125

External links



Tuamotus


Gambiers
Islands/Atolls:
Island groups:
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