Makemo

Makemo, Rangi-kemo or Te Paritua,[2] is one of the larger of the Tuamotu atolls in French Polynesia.

Makemo
NASA picture of Makemo Atoll
Makemo
Geography
LocationPacific Ocean
Coordinates16°35′55″S 143°39′41″W
ArchipelagoTuamotus
Area603 km2 (233 sq mi)  (lagoon)
56 km2 (22 sq mi) (above water)
Length69 km (42.9 mi)
Width16.5 km (10.25 mi)
Administration
France
Overseas collectivityFrench Polynesia
Administrative subdivisionÎles Tuamotu-Gambier
CommuneMakemo
Largest settlementPouheva (pop. 600)
Demographics
Population824[1] (2017)
Makemo
Commune
NASA picture of Makemo Atoll.
Location of Makemo
Coordinates: 16°35′55″S 143°39′41″W
CountryFrance
Overseas collectivityFrench Polynesia
SubdivisionÎles Tuamotu-Gambier
Area
1
100 km2 (40 sq mi)
Population
 (2017)
1,508
 • Density15/km2 (39/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−10:00
INSEE/Postal code
98726 /98769
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Makemo Atoll measures 69 km in length and 16.5 km in width, giving it a land area of 56 km². It is the fourth largest atoll of the Tuamotu Archipelago in terms of lagoon surface, with a lagoon of 603 km² in area.[3] Despite its size, Makemo's lagoon has only two navigable passes.

Makemo Atoll has 824 inhabitants;[1] the main village is named Pouheva with a population of 600. The village has a wharf and a boarding school of 150 children from neighbouring islands. It also hosts Makemo Airport, located to the west of Pouheva.

History

Makemo is the home of legendary Polynesian hero Moeava.[4]

The first recorded European to arrive to Makemo Atoll was English pearl merchant John Buyers on the brig Margaret. He arrived at Makemo on 10 March 1803 on the same day he discovered Taenga and named the Makemo Atoll "Phillips Island", after a late sheriff of London, Sir Richard Phillips. In some maps Makemo appears as "Kutusov".

Makemo territorial (domestic) airport was opened in 1976.

Administration

The commune of Makemo consists of the atolls of Makemo, Haraiki, Marutea Nord, Katiu, Tuanake, Hiti, Tepoto Sud, Raroia, Takume, Taenga and Nihiru.[5]

  • Makemo lighthouse
  • Makemo church
  • Makemo mayor and police station
  • Makemo port
  • Flat reef on the east coast of Makemo

References
  1. Répartition de la population en Polynésie française en 2017, Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française
  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. "Tuamotu Archipelago - Makemo". Archived from the original on December 23, 2010. Retrieved 2009-03-14.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  4. Craig, Robert D. (1989). Dictionary of Polynesian Mythology. ISBN 9780313258909.
  5. Décret n°72-407 du 17 mai 1972 portant création de communes dans le territoire de la Polynésie française, Légifrance




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