Takapoto, Tua-poto or Oura, 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
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 ...
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 ...
. It has a length of and a width of .
The nearest land is
Takaroa Atoll, located to the northeast.
Takapoto's lagoon has a high salinity and a strong
phytoplankton
Phytoplankton () are the autotrophic (self-feeding) components of the plankton community and a key part of ocean and freshwater Aquatic ecosystem, ecosystems. The name comes from the Greek language, Greek words (), meaning 'plant', and (), mea ...
biomass.
Geographically Takapoto is part of the
King George Islands (Iles du Roi Georges) subgroup, which includes:
Ahe
Ahe, Ahemaru or Omaru, is a coral atoll in the northern Tuamotus, Tuamotu Archipelago, 14 km to the west of Manihi, in French Polynesia. Its ring shape is broken by only a single small passage into the lagoon. It has a land area of approxi ...
,
Manihi, Takapoto,
Takaroa and
Tikei.
Takapoto Atoll has 380 inhabitants. Fakatopatere, the main village on Takapoto, is located at the southern end of the atoll.
History
The first recorded European to sight Takapoto Atoll was
Jacob Le Maire
Jacob Le Maire (c. 1585 – 22 December 1616) was a Dutch mariner who circumnavigated the Earth in 1615 and 1616. The strait between Tierra del Fuego and Isla de los Estados was named the Le Maire Strait in his honour, though not without contro ...
in 1616.
Sample Chapter(s) for Historical%2
Takapoto Atoll was visited by the 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 ...
expedition in September 1839.
Takapoto Airport was inaugurated in 1973.
Administration
The commune of Takaroa-Takapoto consists of the atolls of Takaroa and Takapoto, and Tikei Island.
See also
* Takapoto Airport
References
Takapoto AirportFakatopatere villageNames
External links
Atolls of the Tuamotus
{{FrenchPolynesia-geo-stub