Vanavana
Encyclopedia
Vanavana, Kurataki, or Huataki is an atoll
in the southeastern area of the Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia
. Vanavana's nearest neighbor is Tureia
, which is located 58 km to the east.
Vanavana is a small oval-shaped atoll. It measures approximately 5 km in length and has a maximum width of 3.2 km. Its reef encloses completely the deep lagoon, which is 61 km2. There is one hook-shaped large island in the north and another in the south of its reef.
Vanavana Atoll is uninhabited. Although, the 27 Oct 2005 imagery available in Google Earth clearly shows about 20 buildings arranged in an orderly fashion on the north end of the island.
, which includes the atolls of Tureia, Fangataufa
, Moruroa
, Tematangi
and Vanavana.
Atoll
An atoll is a coral island that encircles a lagoon partially or completely.- Usage :The word atoll comes from the Dhivehi word atholhu OED...
in the southeastern area of the Tuamotu Archipelago, 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...
. Vanavana's nearest neighbor is Tureia
Tureia
Tureia is an atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia.Tureia atoll is 15 km long and has a maximum width of 8 km. A very long island covers completely its eastern reef. The lagoon has no entrance....
, which is located 58 km to the east.
Vanavana is a small oval-shaped atoll. It measures approximately 5 km in length and has a maximum width of 3.2 km. Its reef encloses completely the deep lagoon, which is 61 km2. There is one hook-shaped large island in the north and another in the south of its reef.
Vanavana Atoll is uninhabited. Although, the 27 Oct 2005 imagery available in Google Earth clearly shows about 20 buildings arranged in an orderly fashion on the north end of the island.
History
The first recorded European to arrive to Vanavana was British mariner Captain Frederick Beechey in 1826. He named this atoll "Barrow Island", after Sir John Barrow.Administration
Administratively Vanavana Atoll belongs to the commune of TureiaTureia
Tureia is an atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia.Tureia atoll is 15 km long and has a maximum width of 8 km. A very long island covers completely its eastern reef. The lagoon has no entrance....
, which includes the atolls of Tureia, Fangataufa
Fangataufa
Fangataufa is a small, low, narrow, coral atoll in the eastern side of the Tuamotu Archipelago. Along with its neighboring atoll, Moruroa, it has been the site of approximately 200 nuclear bomb tests....
, Moruroa
Moruroa
Moruroa , also historically known as Aopuni, is an atoll which forms part of the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia in the southern Pacific Ocean...
, Tematangi
Tematangi
Tematangi or Tematangui is an atoll in the southeastern area of the Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia. Tematangi's nearest neighbor is Mururoa, which is located 161 km to the ESE....
and Vanavana.