Takaroa

Takaroa

NASA picture of Takaroa Atoll
Geography
Location	Pacific Ocean
Coordinates
Archipelago	Tuamotus
Area	(lagoon) 20 km2 (8 sq mi) (above water)
Length	24.7 km (15.35 mi)
Width	7 km (4.3 mi)
Country
France
Overseas collectivity	French Polynesia
Administrative subdivision	Tuamotus
Commune	Takaroa
Largest settlement	Teavaroa
Demographics
Population	882 (as of 2012)

Takaroa
NASA satellite image of Takaroa atoll NASA satellite image of Takaroa atoll
Location of Takaroa in the Tuamotu Archipelago
Coordinates:
Country	France
Overseas collectivity	French Polynesia
Area	26 km2 (10 sq mi)
Population (2012)1	1,262
• Density	49/km2 (130/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	98749 / 98781
1 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Takaroa, Taka-roa or Takapua, is an atoll in the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. It has a length of 27.4 kilometres (17.0 miles) and a width of 7 km (4 mi); its land area is 20 square kilometres (8 square miles).

The nearest land is Takapoto Atoll, located 10 kilometres (6 miles) to the southwest.

Fine pearls, including black pearls, were obtained in the lagoon of Takaroa.

Geographically Takaroa is part of the King George Islands (Iles du Roi Georges) subgroup, which includes Ahe, Manihi, Takapoto, Takaroa and Tikei.

Takaroa Atoll has 882 inhabitants. The main village is Teavaroa.

History

The first recorded Europeans to arrive to Takaroa were Dutch explorers Jacob le Maire and Willem Schouten on 14 April 1616 during their Pacific journey. They called this atoll "Sondergrond Island".

Takaroa territorial airport was inaugurated in 1986.

Administration

The commune of Takaroa consists of the atolls of Takaroa and Takapoto, as well as Tikei Island.

See also

• Takaroa Airport

References

• [1]
• [2]
• Atoll names
• le Maire & Schouten

External links

• Atoll list (in French)