Manuhangi

Manuhangi (also known as Te Fara[2]) is an atoll of the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located 68 km southeast of Nengonengo, 52 km west of Paraoa and 845 km east of Tahiti.[3]

Manuhangi
NASA picture of Manuhangi Atoll
Manuhangi
Geography
LocationPacific Ocean
Coordinates19°14′S 141°15′W
ArchipelagoTuamotus
Area7 km2 (2.7 sq mi) (lagoon)
3.75 km2 (1.45 sq mi) (above sea level)
Length5.4 km (3.36 mi)
Width3.6 km (2.24 mi)
Administration
France
Overseas collectivityFrench Polynesia
Administrative subdivisionTuamotus
CommuneHao
Demographics
PopulationUninhabited[1] (2012)
NASA picture of Manuhangi atoll

Manuhangi Atoll is small in size,[3] with a length of 5.4 km and a maximum width of 3.6 km. It has an oval shape and a coral reef completely enclosing a small lagoon. Manuhangi has a hook-shaped island covering the east and northeast of its reef.

History

The old Paumotu (Tuamotu's inhabitants) called this small atoll "manu hagi" (meaning "the loving bird").[4] The atoll has been uninhabited for many years.[4]

The first recorded European who arrived to Manuhangi was English navigator Samuel Wallis in 1767.[4] He named it "Cumberland".

Administration

Administratively Manuhangi belongs to the commune of Hao (main village: Otepa), which includes Ahunui (uninhabited), Nengonengo, Manuhangi (no permanent inhabitant) and Paraoa (uninhabited).

Flora and fauna

Manuhangi is a protected area and various species of birds are found in the atoll.[4] Part of the land is planted with coconut palms.[5] Apart from the birds, the fauna of the island primarily consists of coconut crabs.[5]

Economy and infrastructure

Tahitian black pearls are collected and cultivated in the surrounding islands.[4] The island has some houses with permanent structures, cisterns, and water supply from natural wells.[5] Manuhangi has no permanent inhabitant.[6]

References
  1. "Population". Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  2. Young, J.L. (1899). "Names of the Paumotu Islands, with the old names so far as they are known". Journal of the Polynesian Society. 8 (4): 264–268. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  3. "Manuhangi". Archived from the original on December 23, 2010. Retrieved 2009-03-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) Oceandots.com
  4. Manuhangi Atoll Archived 2008-02-18 at the Wayback Machine Privateislandsonline.com
  5. Manuhangi Atoll Pavilionsofsplendourinternational.com
  6. United Nations Environment Programme, IUCN Commission on National Parks and Protected Areas (1986). Review of the Protected Areas System in Oceania. The World Conservation Union. pp. 207. ISBN 2-88032-509-9.



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