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Makemo, Rangi-kemo or Te Paritua, is an inhabited
atoll An atoll () is a ring-shaped island, including a coral rim that encircles a lagoon. There may be coral islands or cays on the rim. Atolls are located in warm tropical or subtropical parts of the oceans and seas where corals can develop. Most ...
in the
Tuamotu The Tuamotu Archipelago or the Tuamotu Islands (, officially ) are a French Polynesian chain of just under 80 islands and atolls in the southern Pacific Ocean. They constitute the largest chain of atolls in the world, extending (from northwest to ...
archipelago in
French Polynesia French Polynesia ( ; ; ) is an overseas collectivity of France and its sole #Governance, overseas country. It comprises 121 geographically dispersed islands and atolls stretching over more than in the Pacific Ocean, South Pacific Ocean. The t ...
.


History

Makemo is the home of legendary Polynesian hero Moeava. The first recorded European to arrive to Makemo Atoll was English pearl merchant
John Buyers John Buyers was the British first officer of the brig Barwell (1782 ship), ''Barwell'' in 1799 on her voyage to China. Later he was the first officer of the brig Margaret (1799 brig), ''Margaret'' as an investment he and John Turnbull made in Tu ...
on the
brig A brig is a type of sailing vessel defined by its rig: two masts which are both square rig, square-rigged. Brigs originated in the second half of the 18th century and were a common type of smaller merchant vessel or warship from then until the l ...
''Margaret''. He arrived at Makemo on 10 March 1803 on the same day he discovered
Taenga Taenga, or Taunga-hara, is one of the Tuamotu atolls in French Polynesia. It is located 32 km to the northeast of Makemo Atoll and 27 km to the northwest of Nihiru Atoll. Taenga Atoll is roughly triangular in shape. It measures 27&nbs ...
and named the Makemo Atoll "Phillips Island", after a late sheriff of London,
Sir Richard Phillips Sir Richard Phillips (13 December 1767 – 2 April 1840) was an English schoolteacher, author, publisher and vegetarianism activist. Life Phillips was born in London on 13 December 1767. Following some political difficulties in Leicester w ...
. In some maps Makemo appears as "Kutusov". In the 19th century, Makemo became a
French territory Overseas France (, also ) consists of 13 French territories outside Europe, mostly the remnants of the French colonial empire that remained a part of the French state under various statuses after decolonisation. Most are part of the European ...
with a population of about 250 indigenous inhabitants around 1850, making it one of the largest in the Tuamotus; it was used as a port for ships. By mid-century, the atoll was evangelized with the founding of St. Joseph Parish in 1851 (which since 2004 also includes churches on Taenga and Nihiru Atolls), followed by the construction of the church of the same name in 1975, attached to the Diocese of Papetee.


Legend

The legend explains that the famous warrior fell in love with Huarei, queen of the island Tepukamaruia. The giant Patira became jealous and the two
Warrior A warrior is a guardian specializing in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal society, tribal or clan-based warrior culture society that recognizes a separate warrior aristocracy, social class, class, or caste. History ...
s challenged each other to combat on the island of Makemo. Moeava arrived first and prepared a giant slingshot. When his rival appeared, he chose a large, round, smooth stone, made a prayer to the god Tu, and killed Patira with a shot to the head. Today, a huge round, smooth stone can be seen in the Makemo lagoon. It is the Moeava stone.


Pacific Experimentation Center

Between 1960 and 2000, a
French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...
armed forces research center, euphemistically called Centre d'expérimentation du Pacifique, was located on the island. It participated in the testing of French
Nuclear weapon A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission (fission or atomic bomb) or a combination of fission and fusion reactions (thermonuclear weapon), producing a nuclear exp ...
s. For this purpose, a military infrastructure was built on the main island, including an airport. This infrastructure will be gradually dismantled. This process began in 2009. Since the research center was a major employer, other forms of employment were created on the island for the population, such as fish farming and tourism. Investments are also being made in the use of solar panels and a desalination plant.


Geography

The
atoll An atoll () is a ring-shaped island, including a coral rim that encircles a lagoon. There may be coral islands or cays on the rim. Atolls are located in warm tropical or subtropical parts of the oceans and seas where corals can develop. Most ...
is 70 km long and about 10 km wide on average. The total area is 56 km2. The lagoon is the third largest of the Tuamotu with 603 km2, and has two navigable passages. The main village is Pouheua, and the total population is 588 inhabitants in the 1996 census. It has a Catholic church, an elementary school and an airport. The main activity is
Pearl A pearl is a hard, glistening object produced within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle (mollusc), mantle) of a living Exoskeleton, shelled mollusk or another animal, such as fossil conulariids. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pear ...
farming.


Climate

The climate is tropical, typical of this southern region. The average temperature is 24 °C. The warmest month is March, at 26 °C, and the coldest month is October, at 21 °C.10 Average rainfall is 1,707 millimeters per year. The rainiest month is December, with 326 millimeters of rain, and the driest month, August, with 36 millimeters.


Administration

The commune of Makemo consists of the atolls of Makemo,
Haraiki Haraiki is a small atoll of the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located 42 km southwest of Marutea Nord. Haraiki Atoll is roughly triangular in shape. It measures 7 km in length with a maximum width of 5 km. There ...
,
Marutea Nord Marutea, or Taunga tauranga-e-havana, is one of the Tuamotu atolls in French Polynesia. It is located 24 km to the southeast of Makemo Atoll and 30 km southwest of Nihiru Atoll. Marutea Atoll measures 42 km in length with a maxim ...
,
Katiu Katiu, or Taungataki, is an atoll of the central Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located west of Makemo Atoll's westernmost point. It measures in length with a maximum width of . Its total area, including the lagoon is and a lan ...
,
Tuanake Tuanake or Mata-rua-puna is a small atoll located in the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia French Polynesia ( ; ; ) is an overseas collectivity of France and its sole #Governance, overseas country. It comprises 121 geographically disp ...
,
Hiti Hiti, or Hiti-rau-mea, is a small atoll of the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located 19 km southwest of Makemo Atoll. Hiti Atoll is oval in shape. It measures 9 km in length with a maximum width of 6 km. There are ...
,
Tepoto Sud Tepoto Atoll (Tepoto Sud), or Ti Poto, is a small atoll of the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located southwest of Makemo Atoll. Tepoto Atoll is almost round in shape. It measures in diameter. Its lovely turquoise-blue lagoon i ...
,
Raroia Raroia, or Raro-nuku, is an atoll of the Tuamotus chain in French Polynesia, located 740 km northeast of Tahiti and 6 km southwest of Takume. Administratively it is a part of the commune of Makemo. The oval-shaped atoll measures 4 ...
,
Takume Takume or Pukamaru is an atoll of the Tuamotus chain in French Polynesia, located 790 km northeast of Tahiti and 6 km northeast of Raroia and to the west of Fangatau. This elongated atoll measures . Its lagoon has an area of Taku ...
,
Taenga Taenga, or Taunga-hara, is one of the Tuamotu atolls in French Polynesia. It is located 32 km to the northeast of Makemo Atoll and 27 km to the northwest of Nihiru Atoll. Taenga Atoll is roughly triangular in shape. It measures 27&nbs ...
and
Nihiru Nihiru, or Niukia, is one of the Tuamotu atolls in French Polynesia. It is a relatively small atoll located 49 km to the east of Makemo Atoll and 30 km northeast of Marutea Atoll. Nihiru Atoll is roughly triangular in shape. It measur ...
.Décret n°72-407 du 17 mai 1972 portant création de communes dans le territoire de la Polynésie française
Légifrance Légifrance () is the official website of the French government for the publication of legislation, regulations, and legal information. It was established by decree in 2002. Access to the site is free. Virtually complete, it presents or refers to ...


Demography

In 2022, the total population of Makemo was 816 persons grouped mainly in the village of Pouheva; its evolution is as follows: Pouheva, located near the Arikitamiro Pass (passe d'Arikitamiro), is the main village of the atoll. It has about 600 inhabitants.


Religion

Most of the population of the Atoll is affiliated with Christianity, as a result of the activity of both Catholic and Protestant missionary groups. The
Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
has a main religious building in the area called St. Joseph's Church (''Église de Saint-Joseph'') which ecclesiastically depends on the Metropolitan
Archdiocese In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associated ...
of Papeete based on the island of
Tahiti Tahiti (; Tahitian language, Tahitian , ; ) is the largest island of the Windward Islands (Society Islands), Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France. It is located in the central part of t ...
.


Economy

Tourism, especially with the development of diving near the two passes, is the main economic sector of the island, along with pearl farming (authorized on only 50 ha of the lagoon), sea cucumber harvesting (in the southern part, below the line linking motu Tahiti Toreu to motu Piupiu) and copra farming. The administrative activities of the commune, which includes eleven surrounding atolls, also develop and provide work. The landing of the Natitua submarine cable and its commissioning in December 2018 allows Makemo to be connected to Tahiti and to the global high-speed Internet. A small domestic
airfield An aerodrome, airfield, or airstrip is a location from which aircraft flight operations take place, regardless of whether they involve air cargo, passengers, or neither, and regardless of whether it is for public or private use. Aerodromes in ...
with a 1,500-meter runway was built in 1976. It serves, on average, about 500 flights and 10,000 passengers per year, of which 30% are transit
Passenger A passenger is a person who travels in a vehicle, but does not bear any responsibility for the tasks required for that vehicle to arrive at its destination or otherwise operate the vehicle, and is not a steward. The vehicles may be bicycles, ...
s.


References


External links


Atoll list (in French)
{{authority control Atolls of the Tuamotus Communes of French Polynesia