Makemo

Coordinates: 16°35′55″S 143°39′41″W / 16.598525°S 143.661258°W / -16.598525; -143.661258

Commune of Makemo
Location
Administration
Country	France
Region	Polynésie française
Statistics
Land area1	100 km2 (39 sq mi)
Population2	1,422  (2007)
- Density	14 /km2 (36 /sq mi)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Makemo, Rangi-kemo or Te Paritua, is one of the larger of the Tuamotu atolls in French Polynesia.

Makemo Atoll measures 70 km in length with an average width of 5–8 km. It is the fourth largest atoll of the Tuamotu Archipelago in terms of lagoon surface, with a lagoon of over 600 km² in area.^[1] Despite its size, Makemo's lagoon has only two navigable passes.

Makemo Atoll has 914 inhabitants; the main village is named Pouheva with a population of 300. The village has a wharf and a boarding school of 150 children from neighbouring islands. It also hosts Makemo Airport, located to the west of Pouheva.

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 commanding the Margaret (brig) on 10 March 1803 on the same day he discovered Taenga. He named the atoll "Phillips Island", after a late sheriff of London, Sir Richard Phillips. In some maps Makemo appears as "Kutusov".

Makemo territorial (domestic) airport was opened in 1976.

Administration

The commune of Makemo consists of the atolls of Makemo, Haraiki, Marutea Nord, Katiu, Tuanake, Hiti, Tepoto Sud, Raroia, Takume, Taenga and Nihiru.

References

1. ^ Tuamotu Archipelago - Makemo

• [1]
• Atoll names
• History, [2] & [3]
• Mormons in Makemo

External links

• Atoll list (in French)
• [4]

v • d • e Tuamotu Archipelago and Gambier Islands of French Polynesia Tuamotus Gambiers Islands/Atolls:  Ahe • Ahunui • Akiaki • Amanu • Anaa* • Anuanuraro • Anuanurunga • Apataki • Aratika • Arutua* • Faaite • Fakahina • Fakarava* • Fangatau* • Fangataufa • Hao* • Haraiki • Hereheretue • Hikueru* • Hiti • Katiu • Kauehi • Kaukura • Makatea • Makemo* • Manihi* • Manuhangi • Maria Est • Marokau • Marutea (North) • Marutea (South) • Mataiva • Matureivavao • Morane • Moruroa • Motutunga • Napuka* • Nengonengo • Niau • Nihiru • Nukutavake* • Nukutepipi • Paraoa • Pinaki • Puka Puka* • Pukaruha • Rangiroa* • Raraka • Raroia • Ravahere • Reao* • Reitoru • Rekareka • Taenga • Tahanea • Taiaro • Takapoto • Takaroa* • Takume • Tatakoto* • Tauere • Tekokota • Tematangi • Temoe • Tenararo • Tenarunga • Tepoto (North) • Tepoto (South) • Tikehau • Tikei • Toau • Tuanake • Tureia* • Vahanga • Vahitahi • Vairaatea • Vanavana * commune administration center Island groups:  Acteon • Disappointment • Duke of Gloucester • King George • Two Groups • Palliser • Raeffksy Archipelagos of French Polynesia:  Australs • Gambiers • Marquesas • Societies • Tuamotus

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