Nukuoro is an atoll in the Federated States of Micronesia.
It is a municipality of the state of Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia. Except for Kapingamarangi, it is the southermost atoll of the country. Nukuoro has a population of 372 (as of 2007), though several hundred Nukuorans live on Pohnpei. The total area, including the lagoon, is 40 km², with a land area of only 1.7 km², which is divided among more than 40 islets that lie on the northern, eastern and southern sides of the lagoon. By far the largest islet is Nukuoro islet, which is the center of population and the capital of the municipality.
The inhabitants speak Nukuoro language, which is closely related to the Kapingamarangi language and is a Polynesian dialect related to Samoan and Tokelauan. Nukuoro and Kapingamarangi constitute parts of the "Polynesian outlier" cultures lying well outside the Polynesian Triangle. Locals tell that the first people came to settle on Nukuoro and Kapingamarangi in the 1700s from Samoa in the South Pacific 2,200 miles distant. Among them, was King Vave Hauhagamoe. Locals tell that Vave's father King Matuamahi was very ill and on his death bed. King Matuamahi had two sons. His first born Vave and his younger son, not named. They were to battle for the right to be King. His elder son Vave had lost the battle and had to leave his home Samoa, to begin a new life somewhere else. He was never to reutrn to Samoa. King Vave then left with his wife and people on canoes and sailed through stormy weather for days, until sighting land. Coming through the high reefs of this lagoon was the beautiful island of Nukuoro. There his people settled. There is set to be a legend of royalty still alive.
The lagoon is 6 kilometers (about 3.7 miles) in diameter. Fishing, animal husbandry, and agriculture (taro and copra) are the main occupations. A recent project to farm black pearl oysters has been successful at generating additional income for the island's people. Nukuoro is remote. It has no airstrip, and a passenger boat calls irregularly only once every few months. The island has no tourism except for the occasional visit by passing sailing yachts. There is a 4 room schoolhouse but children over the age of 14 must travel to Pohnpei to attend high school.
External links
|
||||||||
Coordinates: 3°50′54″N 154°56′27″E / 3.84833°N 154.94083°E
 |
This Federated States of Micronesia location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
