Raraka

Raraka, or Te Marie, is an atoll in the west of the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. It lies 17 km to the southeast of Kauehi Atoll.

Raraka
NASA picture of Raraka Atoll
Raraka is located in French Polynesia
Raraka
Raraka
Geography
LocationPacific Ocean
Coordinates16°10′S 144°54′W
ArchipelagoTuamotus
Area342 km2 (132 sq mi)  (lagoon)
14 km2 (5.4 sq mi) (above water)
Length27 km (16.8 mi)
Width19 km (11.8 mi)
Administration
France
Overseas collectivityFrench Polynesia
Administrative subdivisionÎles Tuamotu-Gambier
CommuneFakarava
Demographics
Population110[1] (2012)

The shape of Raraka Atoll is an oval 27 km long and 19 km wide. Its fringing reef has many sandbanks and small motu (islets). This atoll has a wide lagoon with a navigable pass to the ocean.

Raraka has 96 inhabitants (2017).[2] There is only one village on Motutapu in the northwest.

Raraka Atoll in the Tuamotus should not be confused with Raraka in Malaita, Solomon Islands 09°11′S 161°01′W.

History

The first recorded European to sight Raraka Atoll was Captain Ireland in 1831.[3]

Raraka Atoll was visited by the historic United States Exploring Expedition on 30 Aug. 1839.[4] Charles Wilkes reported: "The next day they reached Raraka Atoll and were allowed ashore to explore it on that and the following day. There they met about 40 peaceful islanders, who had native-born missionary among them. Their chief was missing his left hand, it having been bitten off by a shark."

Administration

Raraka Atoll belongs to the commune of Fakarava, which consists of Fakarava, as well as the atolls of Aratika, Kauehi, Niau, Raraka, Taiaro and Toau.

See also

References
  1. "Population". Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  2. Services et établissements de la Polynésie française
  3. Sample Chapter(s) for Historical%2 Archived 2011-05-22 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Stanton, William (1975). The Great United States Exploring Expedition. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 121. ISBN 0520025571.


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