Pinaki (French Polynesia) Explained

Pinaki
Map:French Polynesia
Location:Pacific Ocean
Archipelago:Tuamotus
Area Km2:0.7
Area Footnotes:  (lagoon)
1.3km2 (above water)
Length Km:3
Width Km:2
Country:France
Country Admin Divisions Title:Overseas collectivity
Country Admin Divisions:French Polynesia
Country Admin Divisions Title 2:Commune
Country Admin Divisions 2:Nukutavake
Country Admin Divisions Title 1:Administrative subdivision
Country Admin Divisions 1:Îles Tuamotu-Gambier
Population:Uninhabited[1]
Population As Of:2012

Pinaki (also referred to as Te Kiekie or Artomix) is a small atoll of the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. Geographically Pinaki Atoll is part of the East-central subgroup of the Tuamotus, which includes Ahunui, Amanu, Fangatau, Hao and Nukutavake.

Geography

The island on its reef forms a broken ring almost enclosing a lagoon which has a shallow tidal spillway facing west. Pinaki lies 14 km southeast of Nukutavake, which is the closest land. Vairaatea Atoll lies 51 km to the west of Pinaki. Pinaki Atoll measures 3 km in length and its width is less than 2 km. It has a land area of 1.3 km2 and a lagoon area of 0.7 km2. Pinaki is uninhabited, but it is visited on occasions by villagers from neighboring Nukutavake.

History

The Englishman Samuel Wallis was the first recorded European to visit Pinaki Atoll on June 6, 1767, while searching for the "Southern Continent".[2] Wallis named the atoll "Whitsunday". Frederick Beechey found Pinaki uninhabited in 1826, but he observed that there were huts on the island as well as small reservoirs for the collection and preservation of fresh water cut in the coral rock.

Administration

Pinaki belongs to the commune of Nukutavake, which includes three other atolls apart from Pinaki, Vahitahi, Vairaatea and uninhabited Akiaki.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Population. Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française. 15 October 2014.
  2. Web site: Buck. Peter H.. Explorers of the Pacific: European and American Discoveries in Polynesia. Victoria University of Wellington. 13 January 2013.