Motutunga | |
Map: | French Polynesia |
Location: | Pacific Ocean |
Archipelago: | Tuamotus |
Area Km2: | 126 |
Area Footnotes: | (lagoon) 2.5km2 (above water) |
Length Km: | 15 |
Width Km: | 14 |
Country: | France |
Country Admin Divisions Title: | Overseas collectivity |
Country Admin Divisions: | French Polynesia |
Country Admin Divisions Title 2: | Commune |
Country Admin Divisions 2: | Anaa |
Country Admin Divisions Title 1: | Administrative subdivision |
Country Admin Divisions 1: | Tuamotus |
Population: | Uninhabited[1] |
Population As Of: | 2012 |
Motutunga Atoll[2] is an uninhabited atoll of the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located 17 km to the east of Tahanea Atoll.
Motutunga Atoll is roughly triangular in shape. It measures 15 km in length with a maximum width of 14 km. The reef surrounding the atoll is continuous, leaving no channels deep enough for ships to reach the lagoon. Motutunga's lagoon has a surface of 126 km2.
Motutunga Atoll was first sighted by James Cook on 13 August 1773 who named it Adventure, after the name of his own ship.[3]
Spanish navigator Domingo de Boenechea sighted the atoll, which he called San Blas, on 9 November 1774 from ship Aguila.[4] [5]
Motutunga belongs to the commune of Anaa that also includes the associated commune of Faaite with the atoll of Faaite and the uninhabited atolls of Tahanea and Motutunga.