Reao or Natūpe is an
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 eastern expanses of the
Tuamotu group 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 ...
. The closest land is
Pukarua Atoll, located 48 km to the WNW.
Reao is 24.5 km long and its maximum width is 5 km. The whole length of its north-eastern rim is occupied by a single long island. There is no navigable pass into the lagoon.
Reao Atoll's population is 305 inhabitants (2022).
[
]
History
The first recorded European to sight Reao Atoll was French explorer Louis Isidore Duperrey
Louis-Isidore Duperrey (21 October 1786 – 25 August 1865) was a French naval officer and explorer.
Biography
Early life
Louis-Isidore Duperrey was born in 1786.
Career
He joined the navy in 1802, and served as marine hydrologist to Louis Cl ...
in 1823. He named this atoll "Clermont Tonnerre".
Reao was visited by the United States Exploring Expedition
The United States Exploring Expedition of 1838–1842 was an exploring and surveying expedition of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding lands conducted by the United States. The original appointed commanding officer was Commodore Thomas ap Catesby ...
led by Charles Wilkes
Charles Wilkes (April 3, 1798 – February 8, 1877) was an American naval officer, ship's captain, and List of explorers, explorer. He led the United States Exploring Expedition (1838–1842).
During the American Civil War between 1861 and 1865 ...
on August 13, 1839. They became the first white men to set foot on the island, but were met by a hostile group of 17 natives.
Flora and fauna
The lagoon of the atoll is particularly important in that it hosts large colonies of ' and '' Acropora formosa'' corals, as well as over 400 ''Tridacna maxima
The maxima clam (''Tridacna maxima''), also known as the small giant clam, is a species of bivalve mollusc found throughout the Indo-Pacific region.MolluscaBase eds. (2022). MolluscaBase. Tridacna maxima (Röding, 1798). Accessed through: World R ...
'' clams.
Administration
The commune of Reao consists of Reao, as well as the atoll of Pukarua.[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 ...
Its total population is 513 (2022).[
]
References
*
United States Exploring Expedition
Historical names
External links
Communes of French Polynesia
Atolls of the Tuamotus
{{FrenchPolynesia-geo-stub
oc:Reao