Vanavana
NASA picture of Vanavana Atoll
Vanavana is located in French Polynesia
Vanavana
Vanavana
Geography
LocationPacific Ocean
Coordinates20°47′S 139°10′W / 20.783°S 139.167°W / -20.783; -139.167
ArchipelagoTuamotus
Area6 km2 (2.3 sq mi)  (lagoon)
5 km2 (2 sq mi) (above water)
Length3.5 km (2.17 mi)
Width2.2 km (1.37 mi)
Administration
France
Overseas collectivityFrench Polynesia
Administrative subdivisionTuamotus
CommuneTureia
Demographics
PopulationUninhabited[1] (2012)

Vanavana, Kurataki, or Huataki is an atoll in the southeastern area of the Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia. Vanavana's nearest neighbour is Tureia, which is located 58 kilometres (36 miles) to the east.[2][3][4]

Vanavana is a small oval-shaped atoll. It measures approximately 3.5 kilometres (2.2 miles) in length, has a maximum width of 2.2 kilometres (1.4 miles) and a land area of approximately 5 square kilometres (1.9 square miles). Its reef encloses completely the deep lagoon, which is 6 square kilometres (2.3 square miles). There is one hook-shaped large island in the north and another in the south of its reef.

Vanavana Atoll is uninhabited; however, buildings on the northern end of the island are present.

History

The first recorded European to arrive at Vanavana was British mariner Captain Frederick Beechey in 1826. He named this atoll "Barrow Island", after Sir John Barrow.[5]

Administration

Administratively Vanavana Atoll belongs to the commune of Tureia, which includes the atolls of Tureia, Fangataufa, Moruroa, Tematangi and Vanavana.

References

  1. ↑ "Population". Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  2. ↑ Vanavana
  3. ↑ Map of Vanavana
  4. ↑ Atoll names
  5. ↑ "History". Archived from the original on 2006-10-10. Retrieved 2006-10-10.



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