Tepuka

Location of Tepuka in Funafuti

Tepuka is an island eighteen kilometers west of Fongafale, in the northwest of Funafuti,^[1][2] the main atoll of the Oceanian nation of Tuvalu. Te puka, or Pouka, is the name of a tree - Hernandia peltata.^[3]

There is a well-preserved underground bunker on the island, which was an American communications outpost built during the Pacific War, which was connected to the military airfield on Fongafale.^{[4] [5]}

The island lies between the smaller islet of Tepuka Vili Vili in the southwest, the smaller islet of Te Afualiku in the northeast, the Pacific Ocean on the west and the Funafuti lagoon called Te Namo on the east. In recent years the island has suffered from major erosion. Te Ava Tepuka and Te Avua Sari are two neighbouring passages through Funafuti atoll in the northeast, between the islets of Te Afualiku to the northeast and Tepuka to the southwest.^[6]

Tepuka is to the north of the Funafuti Conservation Area, which encompasses 33 square kilometers (12.74 square miles) of reef, lagoon and six motu (islets) to the south of Tepuku: Tepuka Vili Vili, (also called Tepuka Savilivili); Fualopa; Fuafatu; Vasafua; Fuagea (also called Fuakea) and Tefala.

v t e Islands and atolls of Tuvalu Islands Nanumanga Niulakita Niutao Atolls Funafuti Nanumea Nui Nukufetau Nukulaelae Vaitupu Islets of Funafuti Amatuku Avalau Falaoigo Fale Fatu Fatato Fongafale Fuafatu Fuagea Fualefeke Fualopa Funafala Funamanu Luamotu Mateika Motugie Motuloa Mulitefala Nukusavalevale Papa Elise Pukasavilivili Te Afuafou Te Afualiku Tefala Telele Tengasu Tepuka Tepuka Vili Vili Tutanga Vasafua Islets of Nanumea Lakena Lefogaki Teatua a Taepoa Temotufoliki Islets of Nui Fenua Tapu Telikiai aka Meang Motupuakaka Pakantou Piliaieve Pongalei Talalolae Tokinivae Unimai Islets of Nukufetau Faiava Lasi Fale Funaota Kongo Loto Lafanga Lafanga Matanukulaelae Motufetau Motulalo Motuloa (north of Nukufetau) Motuloa (south of Nukufetau) Motumua Niualuka Niuatui Oua Sakalua Savave Teafatule Teafuaniua Teafuanonu Teafuone Temotuloto Islets of Vaitupu Luasamotu Isles of Mosana Motutanifa Temotu Te Motu Olepa Tofia

Coordinates: 8°27′46″S 179°04′49″E / 8.4627°S 179.0802°E / -8.4627; 179.0802

References