Vahitahi

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Vahitahi

NASA satellite image of Vahitahi
Geography
Coordinates 18°47′S 138°50′W / 18.783°S 138.833°W / -18.783; -138.833
Archipelago Tuamotu
Area 2.5 km2 (0.97 sq mi)
Length 10 km (6 mi)
Width 4.5 km (2.8 mi)
Country
France
Demographics
Population 103 (as of 2002)
Location of Vahitahi within the Tuamotu archipelago

Vahitahi, or Vaitake, is an atoll in the eastern area of the Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia. Vahitahi's nearest neighbour is Akiaki, which is located 41 km to the northwest.

Vahitahi is a small atoll with an elongated oval shape. It measures approximately 10 km in length and has a maximum width of 4.5 km. Its reef encloses completely the lagoon. The total land area of the islands on its reef is 2.5 km².

The main village is called Mohitu (formerly Temanufaara). There were 103 inhabitants according to the 2002 census.

History

Vahitahi Atoll was the first land that Louis Antoine de Bougainville found in the Pacific in 1768. He called the atoll Les Quatre Facardins, after a novel of the time. James Cook reached Vahitahi the following year and named it Lagoon Island.

Vahitahi has a territorial airport. It was inaugurated in 1986.

Administration

Administratively Vahitahi Atoll belongs to the commune of Nukutavake.

References

  • [http://www.flightstats.com/go/FlightStatus/flightStatusByAirport.do?airportCode=VHZ&airportQueryDate=2008-01... Vahitahi Airport]
  • Atoll names

External links


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