Vairaatea
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Vairaatea is a small atoll of the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. Geographically Vairaatea Atoll is part of the East-central subgroup of the Tuamotus, which includes Ahunui, Amanu, Fangatau, Hao and Nukutavake. Nukutavake, the closest land, lies Script error: No such module "convert". to the east.[1]
Vairaatea Atoll measures Script error: No such module "convert". in length and its width is about Script error: No such module "convert".. Its reef has a roughly triangular shape. There are two long islands on it. The reef completely encloses a Script error: No such module "convert". lagoon.[1] Landing on this atoll is difficult on account of the surf and the lack of a safe anchorage.
In 1989, Vairaatea was inhabited by eight families living in a village at the northern end of Puka Runga, the only inhabited island. According to the 2012 census, 57 people were living in Vairaatea,[2] a drop from 70 in 1996.
History
The first recorded European to arrive at Vairaatea was the Spanish explorer Pedro Fernández de Quirós on the 9 February 1606. He named this atoll San Miguel Arcángel. However his captains Prado y Tovar and Vaéz de Torres refer to it as Santa Polonia as it was sighted on the day of this Christian martyr.[3]
Englishman Samuel Wallis visited Vairaatea in 1767. He named it "Lord Egmont". In some maps, it also appears as "Industriel".
Administration
Administratively Vairaatea is part of the commune of Nukutavake.[1]
References
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- ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
- ↑ Maude, H.E. Spanish discoveries in the Central Pacific. A study in identification Journal of the Polynesian Society, Wellington, LXVIII, 1959, p.284-326.
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- Pictures and map
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- Samuel Wallis (in German)
- visit to Vairaatea
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