Makatea
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Makatea is a uplifted coral island in the northwestern part of the Tuamotus. It is located west of the Palliser group, with a plain 80 meters above the sea level. It is 7.5 km long north-south, with a maximal width of 7 km in the south. It is 24 km² in area. The population numbers 94 (census of 2003). Principal village is Moumu on the east coast. There is a ghost town, Vaitepaua, and a close-by abandoned port on the northern west coast, Temao, both from the times of phosphate mining (1917 to 1964). Makatea is one of three important Pacific raised coral islands that had large phosphate deposits, the other two being Nauru and Banaba.
The island forms a commune associée of Rangiroa commune. The inhabitants live off of agriculture, culture of copra, some fishing and the trade of coconut crabs.
The island was called "Aurora" by Dutch discoverer Jakob Roggeveen in 1722. Later, the Polynesians called it "Tea Dad" (which means "white rock").
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Tuamotu Archipelago and Gambier Islands of French Polynesia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Image:Flag of the Tuamotu Islands.svg Tuamotus Image:Flag of the Gambier Islands.svg Gambiers | Islands/Atolls: Ahe • Ahunui • Akiaki • Amanu • Anaa* • Anuanuraro • Anuanurunga • Apataki • Aratika • Arutua* • Faaite • Fakahina • Fakarava* • Fangatau* • Fangataufa • Hao* • Haraiki • Hereheretue • Hikueru* • Hiti • Katiu • Kauehi • Kaukura • Makatea • Makemo* • Manihi* • Manuhangi • Maria Est • Marokau • Marutea (North) • Marutea (South) • Mataiva • Matureivavao • Morane • Moruroa • Motutunga • Napuka* • Nengonengo • Niau • Nihiru • Nukutavake* • Nukutepipi • Paraoa • Pinaki • Puka Puka* • Pukaruha • Rangiroa* • Raraka • Raroia • Ravahere • Reao* • Reitoru • Rekareka • Taenga • Tahanea • Taiaro • Takapoto • Takaroa* • Takume • Tatakoto* • Tauere • Tekokota • Tematangi • Tenararo • Tenurunga • Tepoto (North) • Tepoto (South) • Tikehau • Tikei • Toau • Tuanake • Tureia* • Vahanga • Vahitahi • Vairaatea • Vanavana | Image:Flag of French Polynesia.svg |
| * commune administration center | ||
| Island groups: Acteon • Disappointment • Duke of Gloucester • King George • Two Groups • Palliser • Raeffksy | ||
| Archipelagos of French Polynesia: Australs • Gambiers • Marquesas • Societies • Tuamotus | ||
de:Makatea et:Makatea es:Makatea fr:Makatea (île) gl:Makatea lt:Makatea pl:Makatea ru:Макатеа (остров) fi:Makatea
