geo.wikisort.org - Island

Vairaatea is a small atoll of the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. Geographically Vairaatea Atoll is part of the East-central subgroup of the Tuamotus, which includes Ahunui, Amanu, Fangatau, Hao and Nukutavake. Nukutavake, the closest land, lies 41 kilometres (25 miles) to the east.[2]

Vairaatea

NASA picture of Vairaatea Atoll
Vairaatea
Geography
Location	Pacific Ocean
Coordinates	19°21′S 139°13′W
Archipelago	Tuamotus
Area	13 km2 (5.0 sq mi)  (lagoon) 3 km2 (1 sq mi) (above water)
Length	8 km (5 mi)
Width	4 km (2.5 mi)
Administration
France
Overseas collectivity	French Polynesia
Administrative subdivision	Tuamotus
Commune	Nukutavake
Demographics
Population	57[1] (2012)

Vairaatea Atoll measures 8 kilometres (5 miles) in length and its width is about 4 kilometres (2 miles). Its reef has a roughly triangular shape. There are two long islands on it. The reef completely encloses a 13-square-kilometre (5-square-mile) lagoon.[2] Landing on this atoll is difficult on account of the surf and the lack of a safe anchorage.

In 1989 Vairaatea was inhabited by eight families living in a village at the northern end of Puka Runga, the only inhabited island. According to the 2012 census, there were 57 people living in Vairaatea,[1] a drop from 70 in 1996.

History

The first recorded European to arrive at Vairaatea was the Spanish explorer Pedro Fernández de Quirós on the 9 February 1606. He named this atoll San Miguel Arcángel. However his captains Prado y Tovar and Vaéz de Torres refer to it as Santa Polonia as it was sighted on the day of this Christian martyr.[3]

Englishman Samuel Wallis visited Vairaatea in 1767. He named it "Lord Egmont". In some maps, it also appears as "Industriel".

Administration

Administratively Vairaatea is part of the commune of Nukutavake.[2]

References

• Pictures and map
• Samuel Wallis (in German)
• visit to Vairaatea

На других языках

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[de] Vairaatea

Vairaatea ist ein Atoll im Tuamotu-Archipel im Pazifischen Ozean. Politisch gehört es zu Französisch-Polynesien und dort zur Gemeinde Nukutavake. Von der gleichnamigen Insel Nukutavake ist Vairaatea etwa 38 Kilometer entfernt, vom Atoll Hao 180 Kilometer.

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- [en] Vairaatea

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[es] Vairaatea (atolón)

Vairaatea es un atolón de las Tuamotu, en la Polinesia Francesa. Administrativamente es una comuna asociada a la comuna de Nukutavake. Está situado a 180 km al sureste del atolón de Hao.

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[fr] Vairaatea

Vairaatea est un atoll situé dans l'archipel des Tuamotu en Polynésie française. Il est administrativement rattaché à la commune de Nukutavake.

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[it] Vairaatea

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

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[ru] Ваираатеа

Ваираатеа (фр. Vairaatea) — атолл в архипелаге Туамоту (Французская Полинезия). Расположен в 180 км к юго-востоку от атолла Хао.

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