- Rapa Iti
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NASA picture of Rapa.
Rapa Iti
Administration Country France Overseas collectivity French Polynesia Arrondissement - Canton - Statistics Elevation 0–650 m (0–2,130 ft) Land area1 40 km2 (15 sq mi) Population2 497 (2002) - Density 12 /km2 (31 /sq mi) INSEE/Postal code 98741/ - 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. Coordinates: 27°36′S 144°20′W / 27.60°S 144.33°W
Rapa or Rapa Iti (Little Rapa) as it is sometimes called in more recent years (to distinguish it from "Rapa Nui" (Big Rapa), a name for Easter Island), is the largest and only inhabited island of the Bass Islands in French Polynesia. An older name for the island is Oparo[1] Its area is 40 km2 with a population of almost 500 and a max elevation of 650 m. Its main town is Ahuréi.
Contents
Geography
Rapa Iti is located at 27°35′00″S 144°20′00″W / 27.5833333°S 144.3333333°W. It is shaped roughly like a Greek final sigma (ς), with a well-protected central bay, surrounded by a ring of relatively high mountains. The whole island appears very much to be the peak of a sinking volcano, with the bay as the caldera. The area of the island is 40 km2 (15 sq mi).
Its main town, Ahuréi (sometimes called Ahurei, Ha'urei or Ha'uréi, latter two also show how it is pronounced), lies on both the northern and southern shores of that bay, which is called the Baie d'Ahuréi. The people are Polynesian. Former times' warfare is indicated by 28 extant ridgetop forts. Today Rapa is home to the Tahitian Choir, in which a third of the island's population sing traditional songs.
Although sometimes considered part of the Austral Islands, the Bass Islands have a different geological, linguistic and cultural history. A description of the culture of Rapa is found in Rapan Lifeways (1970), by F. Allan Hanson. Hail Moro
History
Rapa Iti was first settled by the Rapan speaking Polynesians, most likely in the 13th century. [1]
The first European to encounter Rapa was George Vancouver in 1791; he named the island Oparo. Numerous ancient ruins ("pa" or "pare", a type of fort) are found on the island, particularly on peaks and clifftops. Thor Heyerdahl, notably, made excavations here, seeking links between Rapa Iti and Rapa Nui (aka Easter Island).
Île RapaManatau French Polynesian Reserve
The Manatau French Polynesian Reserve is a special French Polynesian Reserve to protect the animals and ridgetop forts of an area of southern Rapa. It is located near South Ahuréi (suburb of Ahuréi).
Administration
The commune of Rapa consists of the islands of Rapa Iti and the four uninhabited Marotiri rocks.
Related Article
External links
- Information from website of the government of French Polynesia
- Article about a scientific study on the social history and development of Rapa Iti society
Bass Islands: Rapa • MarotiriArchipelagos of French Polynesia: Australs • Gambiers • Marquesas • Societies • Tuamotus References
Categories:- Islands of the Austral Islands
- Communes of French Polynesia
- French Polynesia geography stubs
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