Uturoa
Encyclopedia
Uturoa is a commune
(municipality) of French Polynesia
, an overseas territory of France
in the Pacific Ocean
. The commune of Uturoa is located on the island of Raiatea
, in the administrative subdivision
of the Leeward Islands
of which Uturoa is the administrative capital. The Leeward Islands are themselves part of the Society Islands
. Uturoa is the main port of Raiatea Island. At the August 2007 census the urban area
of Uturoa had 8,735 inhabitants, 3,778 of which lived in the commune of Uturoa proper. Uturoa is about 200 km (124.3 mi) northwest of Papeete
, the Tahitian capital.
is the main airline at the airport. The runway is asphalt and stretches all the way to the eastern side of the island. If the residents want to make an international flight, they would take Air Tahiti to Faa'a International Airport
in Faaa
. Sometimes ferries leave Raiatea and sail northward toward nearby Tahaa
. Other ferries sail to Vaitape
, Bora Bora
or Tahiti
.
coming from Southeast Asia
. When the settlers first arrived, they had built houses of branches and grass. Fish, bananas, and apples were the main food that the early Polynesians ate. They hunted fish by using spears and sticks. During the 1700s, Captain James Cook
had arrived in Tahiti and many more French Polynesian islands to map most of the Pacific Ocean. Later on, Charles Darwin
had come on his expedition. He explored Moorea
and other Society Islands. Don the Beachcomber
had lived here some of his life. Uturoa had a major population growth during the 1940s.
. The commune is about 5 ft (1.5 m) above sea level
on average. The mountains of Uturoa are not far inland and sometimes touch the coast and form coast ranges. Uturoa is situated between the small pass of Tahaa and the forest-covered mountains of Raiatea.
at some parts due to past volcanic eruptions. Parks have been created inland from the beach and Tahitian
dancers dance in the spaces. The beaches stop at one point and then the coast is filled with cranes and container ships.
of Bora Bora can be seen from Uturoa.
which is a district of Tahiti. Teahupoo is close to a reef break which causes enormous swells, ideal for the World Championship Tour of surfing. One of the champions is Ben Severson
.
Other major sports are soccer and basketball. Soccer is played in the school fields.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
(municipality) of French Polynesia
French Polynesia
French Polynesia is an overseas country of the French Republic . It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory...
, an overseas territory of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. The commune of Uturoa is located on the island of Raiatea
Raiatea
Raiatea , is the second largest of the Society Islands, after Tahiti, in French Polynesia. The island is widely regarded as the 'center' of the eastern islands in ancient Polynesia and it is likely that the organised migrations to Hawaii, Aotearoa and other parts of East Polynesia started at...
, in the administrative subdivision
Administrative divisions of French Polynesia
There are two levels of administrative divisions of French Polynesia, five administrative subdivisions each of which is further divided into a total of 48 communes. Many of the communes are further subdivided into communes associées...
of the Leeward Islands
Leeward Islands (Society Islands)
The Leeward Islands are the western part of the Society Islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the South Pacific. They lie south of the Line Islands , east of the Cooks and north of the Austral Islands . Their area is 395 km² with a population of over 33,000...
of which Uturoa is the administrative capital. The Leeward Islands are themselves part of the Society Islands
Society Islands
The Society Islands are a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean. They are politically part of French Polynesia. The archipelago is generally believed to have been named by Captain James Cook in honor of the Royal Society, the sponsor of the first British scientific survey of the islands;...
. Uturoa is the main port of Raiatea Island. At the August 2007 census the urban area
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
of Uturoa had 8,735 inhabitants, 3,778 of which lived in the commune of Uturoa proper. Uturoa is about 200 km (124.3 mi) northwest of Papeete
Papeete
-Sights:* Interactive Google map of Papeete, to discover the 30 major tourist attractions in Papeete downtown.*The waterfront esplanade*Bougainville Park -Sights:* Interactive Google map of Papeete, to discover the 30 major tourist attractions in Papeete downtown.*The waterfront...
, the Tahitian capital.
Transport
Raiatea Airport serves the island of Raiatea. The airport is located in eastern Uturoa and many of the islanders come here to travel to different islands. Raiatea Airport has one runway and Air TahitiAir Tahiti
Société Air Tahiti Société Anonyme is a regional airline with its head office on the property of Faa'a International Airport, in Faaa, Tahiti, French Polynesia, near Papeete. Air Tahiti's network covers 46 islands within French Polynesia, plus the island of Rarotonga...
is the main airline at the airport. The runway is asphalt and stretches all the way to the eastern side of the island. If the residents want to make an international flight, they would take Air Tahiti to Faa'a International Airport
Faa'a International Airport
- Overview :The Faaa International Airport is a relatively small airport. Air Tahiti has flights every day going to all the other islands in French Polynesia while international flights go to different countries such as the United States or New Zealand. The airport is on Tahiti which is an island...
in Faaa
Faaa
Faaa is a commune in the suburbs of Papeete in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. Faaa is located on the island of Tahiti, in the administrative subdivision of the Windward Islands, themselves part of the Society Islands. Faaa has a population of 29,851, making...
. Sometimes ferries leave Raiatea and sail northward toward nearby Tahaa
Tahaa
Tahaa is an island located among the Society Islands, in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean...
. Other ferries sail to Vaitape
Vaitape
Vaitape is the largest city of island Bora Bora in French Polynesia. It has population of 4,927. This city has about half of the island's population which is about 9,000. It is located about northwest of Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia...
, Bora Bora
Bora Bora
The commune of Bora-Bora is made up of the island of Bora Bora proper with its surrounding islets emerging from the coral reef, 29.3 km² in total, and of the atoll of Tupai , located north of Bora Bora...
or Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
.
History
Uturoa was first settled by early PolynesiansPolynesians
The Polynesian peoples is a grouping of various ethnic groups that speak Polynesian languages, a branch of the Oceanic languages within the Austronesian languages, and inhabit Polynesia. They number approximately 1,500,000 people...
coming from Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
. When the settlers first arrived, they had built houses of branches and grass. Fish, bananas, and apples were the main food that the early Polynesians ate. They hunted fish by using spears and sticks. During the 1700s, Captain James Cook
James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
had arrived in Tahiti and many more French Polynesian islands to map most of the Pacific Ocean. Later on, Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin FRS was an English naturalist. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestry, and proposed the scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection.He published his theory...
had come on his expedition. He explored Moorea
Moorea
Moʻorea is a high island in French Polynesia, part of the Society Islands, 17 km northwest of Tahiti. Its position is . Moʻorea means "yellow lizard" in Tahitian...
and other Society Islands. Don the Beachcomber
Don the Beachcomber
Donn Beach , born Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt, is the founding father of tiki restaurants, bars and nightclubs. The many so-called "Polynesian" restaurants and pubs that enjoyed great popularity are directly descended from what he created...
had lived here some of his life. Uturoa had a major population growth during the 1940s.
Uturoa harbor
Container ships and ferries are found throughout the harbor. The ferries sail to other Society Islands such as Bora Bora and Moorea. The harbor will always remain relatively small because of the limited coast. The container ships bring in containers and put them into a special area. The containers have come from other countries.Parks and recreation
Uturoa has some parks near the harbor. The closest one to the harbor is the Uturoa coastal park. The parks on the mountains close to Uturoa have views of the harbor and the city. School parks are found throughout Raiatea and usually have open grass spaces.Geography
Uturoa is the northernmost point of Raiatea and has a view of Bora Bora, Tahaa, and HuahineHuahine
Huahine is an island located among the Society Islands, in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. It is part of the Leeward Islands group . The island has a population of about 6,000.-Geography:...
. The commune is about 5 ft (1.5 m) above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
on average. The mountains of Uturoa are not far inland and sometimes touch the coast and form coast ranges. Uturoa is situated between the small pass of Tahaa and the forest-covered mountains of Raiatea.
Beaches
The beaches of Uturoa can be black sandBlack sand
Black sand is sand that is black in color. One type of black sand is a heavy, glossy, partly magnetic mixture of usually fine sands, found as part of a placer deposit. Another type of black sand, found on beaches near a volcano, consists of tiny fragments of lava.While some beaches are...
at some parts due to past volcanic eruptions. Parks have been created inland from the beach and Tahitian
Tahitians
The Tahitians, or Maohis, are indigenous peoples of Tahiti and thirteen other Society Islands, as well as the modern population of these lands of mixed ancestry . The Tahitians are one of the most significant indigenous Polynesian peoples of Oceania....
dancers dance in the spaces. The beaches stop at one point and then the coast is filled with cranes and container ships.
Nearby communes
Uturoa is part of the of the Raiatea commune. There are 2 other districts that make up Raiatea. The Huahine commune is about 50 km (31.1 mi) away from Raiatea and is home of Fare, a large commune. Tahaa is just across the pass. Vaitape and AnauAnau
Anau , Turkmenistan, capital of Ahal Province, is a city 8 kilometers southeast of Ashgabat which is connected via the M37 highway. Traces of habitation in the area date back to 3000 B.C....
of Bora Bora can be seen from Uturoa.
Sports
Uturoa is close to Teahupo'oTeahupo'o
Teahupoo is a village on the south-west coast of the island of Tahiti, French Polynesia, southern Pacific Ocean.It is known for the surf break and heavy, glassy waves offshore, often reaching 2 to 3 m and up to 70 feet...
which is a district of Tahiti. Teahupoo is close to a reef break which causes enormous swells, ideal for the World Championship Tour of surfing. One of the champions is Ben Severson
Ben Severson
Ben Severson is a pioneer in the sport of bodyboarding and Sandy Beach local.Oahu lifeguard and former rival of Mike Stewart for more than 15 years, Ben is a fast, perfectly trained and precise prone rider who excels at tube riding. He quickly gained recognition by winning a world title at the...
.
Other major sports are soccer and basketball. Soccer is played in the school fields.