Takaroa

Takaroa, Taka-roa or Takapua, is an atoll in the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. Length 27.4 Km, width 7 Km. Latitude 14° 27'; Longitude S 144° 59' W.

The nearest land is Takapoto Atoll, located 10 Km 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 1003 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 14th 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.

ee also

*Takaroa Airport

References

* [http://www.thetahititraveler.com/islandguide/takaroaintro.asp]
* [http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/91943.html]
* [http://www.jps.auckland.ac.nz/document/Volume_8_1899/Volume_8,_No._4,_December_1899/Names_of_the_Paumotu_Islands,_by_J.L._Young,_p_264-268?action=null Atoll names]
* [http://www.nla.gov.au/cdview/nla.map-rm531&mode=moreinfo le Maire & Schouten]

External links

* [http://www.pacific-image.pf/pages/boutic/dboutic_cdrom_sp132.html Atoll list (in French)]