geo.wikisort.org - Island

Pukarua, sometimes also listed as "Pukaruha" (especially on French maps), is a coral atoll in the eastern Tuamotu Archipelago. The nearest atoll, Reao, is located 48 km to the ESE.

Pukarua

NASA picture of Pukarua Atoll
Pukarua
Geography
Location	Pacific Ocean
Coordinates	18°19′S 137°01′W
Archipelago	Tuamotus
Area	23 km2 (8.9 sq mi)  (lagoon) 7 km2 (3 sq mi) (above water)
Length	17 km (10.6 mi)
Width	4.5 km (2.8 mi)
Administration
France
Overseas collectivity	French Polynesia
Administrative subdivision	Tuamotus
Commune	Reao
Largest settlement	Marautagaroa
Demographics
Population	227[1] (2012)

Pukarua Atoll is 17 km long and its maximum width is 4.5 km. It has a long island on its northeastern reef, shaped somewhat like a fish hook, as well as a number of small islands. The atoll is surrounded by a coral reef without a proper passage. There is a pier from which small to medium-sized ships can be launched.

The only village is Marautagaroa, populated by about 100 inhabitants.

The atoll's lagoon is interesting for snorkelers because of the presence of giant clams.

History

Pukarua Atoll was first visited by Europeans in 1797, when British mariner James Wilson was sailing from Tongatapu to the Marquesas on the ship Duff. He found Pukarua uninhabited, but saw the tokens of former occupancy. Wilson named Pukarua "Searle Island" after a friend he had in the Transport office in England.

Thirty years later another British explorer, Frederick Beechey, found Pukarua inhabited by Polynesians.

Administration

Pukarua Atoll is administratively part of the commune of Reao.

Transport

The atoll is served by the Pukarua Airport (IATA: PUK, ICAO: NTGQ). Inaugurated in 1979, the runway was extended from 900 to 1200m in April 2006.

References

• History & James Wilson
• Atoll names
• Pukarua Airport
• Airfield lengthened

External links

• Atoll list (in French)

На других языках

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[de] Puka Rua

Puka Rua (andere Schreibweise: Pukaruha, alter Name: Serle oder Serle Island) ist ein Atoll im äußersten Osten des Tuamotu-Archipels im Südpazifik.

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- [en] Pukarua

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[fr] Pukarua

Pukarua, également connu sous les noms d'Apucarua, Pukaruha, Pouka-Rouha, Puka-Ruka et Serle[2], est un atoll situé à l'extrémité est de l'archipel des Tuamotu en Polynésie française.

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[it] Pukarua

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

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[ru] Пукаруа

Пукаруа (фр. Pukarua) — атолл в архипелаге Туамоту (Французская Полинезия). Атолл расположен в восточной части архипелага в 50 км к северо-западу от атолла Реао и в 1300 км к востоку от острова Таити.

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