Tuamotus

Name	Tuamotus
Image caption	Flag of the Tuamotu Islands
Locator map	French Polynesia-CIA WFB Map.png
Native name	Tuamotu
Native name link	Tuamotuan language
Location	Pacific Ocean
Archipelago	Polynesia
Total islands	78
Major islands	Anaa, Fakarava, Hao, Makemo
Area km2	850
Country	France
Country admin divisions title	Overseas collectivity
Country admin divisions	French Polynesia
Population	15,862
Population as of	2002
Density km2	18

The Tuamotus or the Tuamotu Archipelago ( officially Archipel des Tuamotu) are a chain of atolls in French Polynesia and the largest chain of atolls in the world, spanning an area of the Pacific Ocean roughly the size of Western Europe. The Tuamotu islands were originally settled by Polynesians who share a common culture, beliefs and language.

Administrative divisions

The communes on the Tuamotus are: Anaa, Arutua, Fakarava, Fangatau, Gambier, Hao, Hikueru, Makemo, Manihi, Napuka, Nukutavake, Pukapuka, Rangiroa, Reao, Takaroa-takapoto, Tatakoto and Tureia. Administratively, the Tuamotus are part of the Îles Tuamotu-Gambier, which form one of the 5 administrative subdivisions (subdivisions administratives) of French Polynesia, the administrative subdivision of the Tuamotu-Gambier (Islands) (subdivision administrative des (Îles) Tuamotu-Gambier) with 17 communes: The 16 communes Anaa, Arutua, Fakarava, Fangatau, Gambier, Hao, Hikueru, Makemo, Manihi, Napuka, Nukutavake, Pukapuka, Rangiroa, Reao, Takaroa-takapoto, Tatakoto and Tureia of the Tuamotus and the commune Gambier, comprising the Gambier Islands.

Electoral divisions

The communes on Tuamotu are part of two different districts/electoral circumscriptions (circonscriptions électorales) for the Assembly of French Polynesia (Assemblée de la Polynésie française):

The islands/communes in the eastern part of the Tuamotus, together with the Gambier Islands (Gambier), form the electoral circumscription of the Gambier Islands and the Islands Tuamotu-East (circonscription électorale des Îles Gambier et Tuamotu Est), one of the 6 electoral districts (circonscriptions électorales) for the Assembly of French Polynesia (Assemblée de la Polynésie française) with 12 communes: The commune Gambier on the Gambier Islands and the 11 communes Anaa, Fangatau, Hao, Hikueru, Makemo, Napuka, Nukutavake, Pukapuka, Reao, Tatakoto and Tureia in the eastern part of the Tuamotus.

The islands/communes in the western part of the Tuamotus form the electoral circumscription of the Islands Tuamotu-West (circonscription électorale des Îles Tuamotu Ouest), a separate electoral district for the Assembly of French Polynesia, with the 5 communes Arutua, Fakarava, Manihi, Rangiroa and Takaroa in the western part of the Tuamotus.

Demography

At the 2002 census, the Tuamotus (including the Gambier Islands) had a population of 15,862 inhabitants. 769 inhabitants live in a radius around Moruroa and Fangataufa, the sites of the French nuclear tests. The language spoken in the Tuamotus is Tuamotuan, a collection of Polynesian dialects, except for in Puka-Puka and the Gambier Islands, where Puka-Pukan and Mangarevan are spoken, respectively.

Economy

Today the most important source of income in the Tuamotus is from the cultivation of black pearls and the preparation of copra. Agriculture in the islands is predominantly subsistence in nature. Tourism-related income remains meager, especially by comparison to the tourism industry of the neighboring Society Islands. A modest tourism infrastructure is found on the atolls of Rangiroa and Manihi, two favorite scuba diving and snorkeling destinations.

Geography

Despite the vast spread of the archipelago, it covers a total land area of only about 885 km² (). The climate is warm tropical, without pronounced seasons. The annual average temperature is a relatively continuous 26°C (79°F). Water sources such as lakes or rivers are absent, leaving the only source of fresh water as catchments of rain water. The annual average rainfall is 1400 mm (about 55 in). Rainfall is not markedly different throughout the year, although it is lowest during the months of September and November. Geological stability of the archipelago is high, as it was created by the weakly active Easter Fracture Zone. No volcanic eruptions have been recorded historically.

Island groups

The group encompasses 78 coral atolls and island. Several of the atolls are grouped together and known by group names:

King George Islands

Ahe

Manihi

Takaroa

Takapoto

Tikei

Palliser Islands

Fakarava

Niau

Toau

Arutua

Apataki

Kaukura

Mataiva

Tikehau

Rangiroa

Makatea

Raeffsky Islands

Anaa

Faaite

Tahanea

Motutunga

Takume

Raroia

Taenga

Nihiru

Makemo

Kaitu

Tuanake

Hiti

Tepoto (South) (Tepoto Sud)

Marutea Nord

Haraiki

Aratika

Kauehi

Taiaro

Raraka

Disappointment Islands

Puka-Puka

Napuka

Tepoto (North) (Tepoto Nord)

Duke of Gloucester Islands

Hereheretue

Anuanuraro

Anuanurunga

Nukutepipi

Hao Group

Rekareka (Tehuata)

Tauere

Amanu

Hao

Paraoa

Nengonengo

Manuhangi

Ahunui

Hikueru Group

Tekokota

Hikueru

Reitoru

Marokau

Ravahere

Far East Tuamotu Group

Fangatau

Fakahina

Tatakoto

Akiaki

Vahitahi

Nukutavake

Vairaatea

Pinaki

Reao

Pukarua

Vanavana

Tureia

Tematangi

Moruroa

Fangataufa

Acteon Group (Groupe Actéon)

Matureivavao

Tenararo

Tenarunga

Vahanga

Gambier Group

Akamaru

Angakauitai

Aukena

Kamaka

Kouaku

Makapu

Makaroa

Mangareva

Manui

Mekiro

Papuri

Puaumu

Taravai

Tokorua

Totengengie

Outer Gambier Group

Marutea Sud (Marutea South)

Maria Est (Maria East)

Morane

Temoe

Flora and fauna

The sparse soil of the coral islands does not permit a diverse vegetation. The coconut palm, which forms the basis for copra production, is of special economic importance. On a few islands, vanilla is also cultivated. Agriculture is generally otherwise limited to simple subsistence. Fruit and vegetable staples include yams, taro, and breadfruit, as well as a wide range of other tropical fruits. Pandanus leaves are traditionally woven together as roof thatch (although nowadays there are a great number of corrugated sheet-metal roofs instead), as well as for other items, such as mats and hats. The animal life on the islands is limited to primarily birds (mostly seabirds), insects and lizards. The Tuamotus have only 57 species of birds, but 10 are endemic, including a lorikeet, a kingfisher and several monarch flycatchers and pigeon. 13 species are globally threatened and one is extinct. The underwater fauna however, is diverse. The beautiful and species-rich reefs make the Tuamotus one of the most scenic scuba-diving destinations in the world.

Geology

All of the islands of the Tuamotus are coral "low islands": essentially high sand bars built upon coral reefs. Makatea, southwest of the Palliser Islands, is one of three great phosphate rocks in the Pacific Ocean. The others are Banaba in Kiribati, and the island nation of Nauru. Although geographically part of the Tuamotus, the Gambier Islands, at the southeastern extreme of the archipelago, are geologically and culturally distinct.

History

The early history of the Tuamotu islands is generally shrouded in mystery. Archaeological findings lead to the conclusion that the western Tuamotus were settled from the Society Islands by c. 700. On the islands of Rangiroa, Manihi and Mataiva, there are flat ceremonial platforms (called marae) made of coral blocks, although their exact age is unknown.

Tupac Inca Yupanqui from the Inca Empire is credited with leading a circa 10 month-long voyage of exploration into the Pacific around 1480.

European encounters with the Tuamotus began with that of Ferdinand Magellan, during his circumglobal voyage in 1521. His visit was followed by:

Portuguese sailor Pedro Fernandes de Queirós in 1606;

Dutch mariners Willem Schouten and Jacob Le Maire in 1616;

Jakob Roggeveen (who also first sighted Easter Island) in 1722;

John Byron in 1765;

Louis Antoine de Bougainville in 1768;

James Cook during his first voyage in 1769;

Domingo de Bonechea in 1774 and

German navigator Otto von Kotzebue, sailing in the service of the Russian tsars, in 1815.

None of these visits was of political consequence, as the islands were in the sphere of influence of the Pomare dynasty of Tahiti.

It was not until the beginning of the 19th century that the first Christian missionaries arrived. Traders took the islands' pearls to the European markets by the late 19th century, making them coveted possessions. France forced the abdication of King Pomare V of Tahiti and claimed the islands without ever having formally annexed them. They are currently under the administration of the overseas territory of French Polynesia.

The Tuamotus made headlines around the world in 1947, when archaeologist Thor Heyerdahl, sailing from South America, reached Raroia on his raft Kon-Tiki. More recently the islands have been the subject of headlines as the site of French nuclear weapons testing on the atolls of Mururoa (sometimes called also Moruroa) and Fangataufa.

See also

French overseas departments and territories

Islands controlled by France in the Indian and Pacific oceans

References

External links

Official site (Tahiti Tourism board)

Official site (Geography)

Official site (Administration)

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=44596