Amanu
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Amanu | |
|---|---|
 NASA picture of Amanu Atoll |
|
| Geography | |
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | |
| Archipelago | Tuamotu archipelago |
| Area | lagoon: 240 km² territory above water: 9.6 km² |
| Administration | |
 France |
|
| commune | Hao (French Polynesia) |
| Largest city | Ikitake |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 163 (as of 2002) |
| Density | 17/km² |
Amanu, Timanu, or Karere, is an atoll in the Tuamotu archipelago. Amanu lies at right angles to neighbouring Hao Atoll; this orientation is quite rare for the Tuamotu atolls.
It is situated 900 km east of Tahiti and 15 km north of Hao. The atoll is 29 km long (northeast to southwest) and 10 km wide, but only 9.6 km² of land are above water, the rest forming the central lagoon. The surface of Amanu's wide lagoon is 240 km². There are two navigable passes to enter it.
Amanu has 166 inhabitants. The main village is Ikitake.
Contents |
[edit] History
The first recorded European who arrived to Amanu Atoll was Spanish navigator Pedro Fernández de Quirós on February 12, 1606, while sailing across the Pacific Ocean.
Russian explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen visited Amanu in 1820 on ships Vostok and Mirni. He named this atoll "Moller".
[edit] Administration
Administratively Amanu forms a commune in French Polynesia which includes the atolls of Rekareka (uninhabited) and Tauere. The Amanu commune is associated with the Hao commune.
