Fakaofo

The atoll of Fakaofo, southernmost of the Tokelau Islands

Coordinates: 9°21′55″S 171°12′54″W / 9.36528°S 171.21500°W

Fakaofo
Location of Fakaofo Atoll in the Pacific Ocean
Fakaofo (village) square
Natives of Fakaofo; engraving after a drawing by Alfred Thomas Agate
Map of Fakaofo

Fakaofo, formerly known as Bowditch Island, is a South Pacific Ocean atoll located in the Tokelau Group. The actual land area is only about 3 km², consisting of islets on a coral reef surrounding a central lagoon of some 45 km². According to the 2006 census 483 people officially live on Fakaofo (however just 370 were present at census night). Of those present 70% belong to the Congregational Church and 22% to the Catholic Church.[1]

Overview

The main settlement on the island is Fale on Fale Islet, towards the western side of the atoll. Located two kilometres to the west of it is the relatively large Fenua Fala Islet, where a second settlement was established in 1960. Other islets in the group include Teafua, Nukumatau, Nukulakia, Fenua Loa, Saumatafanga, Motu Akea, Matangi, Lalo, and Mulifenua.

Fakaofo's Council of Elders is made up of citizens over the age of 60.

Previously known as Bowditch (after its discoverer, Nathaniel Bowditch), this island was visited by the American ship Peacock which was part of the first American voyage of discovery – The United States Exploring Expedition (also known as "the Ex Ex" or "the Wilkes Expedition"), 1838–1842, United States Navy Lieutenant Charles Wilkes commanding. Nathaniel Bowditch (1773–1838) was a noted American navigator who wrote a famous two-volume encyclopedia of navigation and sailing that is still used and published today by the Defense Mapping Agency Topographic Center (DMATC). In "Twenty Years Before The Mast",[2] Charles Erskine wrote "The people found on this island had no knowledge of fire, which I believe, is the only instance of the kind on record." This book should not be confused with another book with a similar title by Richard Henry Dana, Jr., which tells about hide trading on the California coast in the early 19th century.

In a village on the island is a coral slab monument, personifying Tui Tokelau, a god once worshiped in the islands.

Between 1856 and 1979, the United States claimed that it held sovereignty over the island and the other Tokelauan atolls. In 1979, the U.S. conceded that Tokelau was under New Zealand sovereignty, and a maritime boundary between Tokelau and American Samoa was established by the Treaty of Tokehega.

List of Islands

1. Mulinefua 2. Vini 3. Motu Pelu 4. Talapeka 5. Te Lafu 6. Palea 7. Manumea 8. Kavivave 9. Heketai 10. Motuloa 11. Motu Akea 12. Niue 13. Fugalei 14. Manuafe 15. Otafi Loa 16. Kaivai 17. Nukuheheke 18. Nukamahaga Lahi 19. Tenki 20. Pagai 21. Matakitoga 22. Vaiaha 23. Falatutahi 24. Lapa 25. Hugalu 26. Logotaua 27. Tafolaelo 28. Otano 29. Akegamutu 30. Te Loto 31. Kapiomotu 32. Metu 33. Hakea Mahaga 34. Pukava 35. Hakea 36. Te Kau Afua o Humu 37. Nukulakia 38. Te Papaloa 39. Pataliga 40. Nukumatau 41. Fale 42. Te Afua tau Lua 43. Fenua Fala

See also

References

  1. ↑ "2006 Census Tabular Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-03-07. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
  2. ↑ Erskine, Charles (1896). Twenty Years Before The Mast. Philadelphia, PA, USA: George W. Jacobs & Co.

External links

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