Tuanake

Tuanake

NASA picture of Tuanake Atoll
Tuanake
Geography
Location Pacific Ocean
Coordinates 16°40′S 144°13′W / 16.667°S 144.217°W / -16.667; -144.217Coordinates: 16°40′S 144°13′W / 16.667°S 144.217°W / -16.667; -144.217
Archipelago Tuamotus
Area 26 km2 (10 sq mi)  (lagoon)
6 km2 (2 sq mi) (above water)
Length 9.5 km (5.9 mi)
Width 6.5 km (4.04 mi)
Administration
France
Overseas collectivity French Polynesia
Administrative subdivision Tuamotus
Commune Makemo
Demographics
Population Uninhabited[1] (2012)

Tuanake or Mata-rua-puna is a small atoll of the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located 24 kilometres (15 miles) southwest of Makemo Atoll's westernmost point.

Tuanake Atoll is roughly semicircular in shape. It measures 9.5 kilometres (5.9 miles) in length with a maximum width of 6.5 kilometres (4.0 miles) . There are some narrow islands on the northern side of its reef with a total land area of about 3 square kilometres (1.2 square miles). Its lagoon is connected to the ocean by a pass located in the southern part of the ringing reef.

Tuanake is located only 7.5 kilometres (4.7 miles) to the northwest of Hiti Atoll. The small group formed by Tuanake, Tepoto Sud and Hiti is also known as the "Raevski Atolls".

History

The first recorded European to sight Tuanake was Russian explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen in 1820.

Administration

Tuanake belongs to the commune of Makemo, which consists of the atolls of Makemo, Haraiki, Marutea Nord, Katiu, Tuanake, Hiti, Tepoto Sud, Raroia, Takume, Taenga and Nihiru. Tuanake Atoll is permanently uninhabited.

Flora and fauna

The Tuamotu reed warbler and the Polynesian ground dove are found in this atoll.

References

  1. ↑ "Population". Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française. Retrieved 22 September 2014.



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