geo.wikisort.org - Island

Niau is a small atoll in French Polynesia, in the commune of Fakarava (Tuamotu archipelago). This atoll has a broad fringing reef, a diameter of 8 km and an area of 53 km².

Niau

NASA picture of Niau Atoll
Niau
Geography
Location	Pacific Ocean
Coordinates	16°9′15″S 146°21′20.4″W
Archipelago	Tuamotus
Area	33 km2 (13 sq mi)  (lagoon) 20 km2 (8 sq mi) (above water)
Length	8 km (5 mi)
Administration
France
Overseas collectivity	French Polynesia
Administrative subdivision	Îles Tuamotu-Gambier
Commune	Fakarava
Largest settlement	Tupana
Demographics
Population	226[1] (2012)

Niau's lagoon is swampy, hypersaline and entirely enclosed. The narrow strip of land surrounding the lagoon is covered by marsh vegetation. The enclosed lagoon area is 33 km², making the land size at 20 km². The lagoon has an unusual green color.

The only human settlement on Niau is Tupana, population 226 (as of 2012^[update]).

History

The first recorded European to visit Niau was a Russian Admiral Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen in 1820 on ships the Vostok and Mirni. He named this island Greig after Aleksey Greig.

Administration

Niau is administratively part of the commune of Fakarava, which consists of the island Fakarava, as well as the atolls of Aratika, Kauehi, Niau, Raraka, Taiaro and Toau.

Ecology

Niau is one of the few locations where the original Tuamotu tropical moist forests ecosystem[2] (known locally as feo) has been preserved. This mixed broadleaf forest[3] ecosystem has disappeared on almost all other atolls. The forest has been preserved in the central parts of the island. It contains several endemic species of plants and animals.

The small Niau kingfisher Todiramphus gertrudae lives now exclusively in the island of Niau. This critically endangered bird disappeared from the Gambier Islands long ago.

Niau airport

Niau Airport is at the northern tip of the atoll (ICAO: NTKN).

References

• Tuamotu Archipelago - Niau at the Wayback Machine (archived December 23, 2010)
• Pictures
• History

External links

• Atoll list (in French)

На других языках

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[de] Niau

Niau ist ein Atoll im Tuamotu-Archipel im südlichen Pazifischen Ozean, etwa 450 km nordöstlich von Tahiti gelegen. Politisch gehört es zu Französisch-Polynesien und dort zur Gemeinde Fakarava.

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- [en] Niau

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[fr] Niau

Niau, également appelé Fakaau[2], est un atoll situé dans les îles Tuamotu en Polynésie française. L'atoll est une commune associée de la commune de Fakarava. Depuis 1977, Niau fait partie des sept atolls de la commune de Fakarava classés Réserve de biosphère par l’UNESCO[3].

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[it] Niau

Niau è un atollo appartenente all'arcipelago delle Isole Tuamotu nella Polinesia francese.

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[ru] Ниау

Ниау (фр. Niau) — атолл в архипелаге Туамоту (Французская Полинезия). В переводе с таитянского языка название атолла означает «кокосовая пальма». Расположен в западной части архипелага в 53 км к западу от атолла Факарава.

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