Taenga

Taenga
	NASA picture of Taenga Atoll
Geography
Location	Pacific Ocean
Coordinates	Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Archipelago	Tuamotus
Area	Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). (lagoon); 20 km² (above water)
Length	27 km (16.8 mi)
Width	11 km (6.8 mi)
Country
	France
Overseas collectivity	French Polynesia
Administrative subdivision	Tuamotus
Commune	Makemo
Demographics
Population	113 (as of 2012)

Taenga, or Taunga-hara, is one of the Tuamotu atolls in French Polynesia. It is located 32 km to the northeast of Makemo Atoll and 27 km to the northwest of Nihiru Atoll.

Taenga Atoll is roughly triangular in shape. It measures 27 km in length with a maximum width of 11 km.

Taenga's lagoon has an area of 120 km². It is very difficult to enter on account of the currents and the very narrow pass.

This atoll currently has 113 inhabitants, most of whom are Mormons who have lived there since 1845.^[2]

History

Taenga Atoll was first discovered by John Buyers on 10 March 1803 who named it "Holts Island" on the same day as he discovered Makemo atoll. It was later rediscovered by Russian explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen in 1820. In some maps it still appears as "Yermolov".

Administration

Taenga Atoll belongs to the commune of Makemo, which consists of the atolls of Makemo, Haraiki, Marutea Nord, Katiu, Tuanake, Hiti, Tepoto Sud, Raroia, Takume, Taenga and Nihiru.

References

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↑ The Lost Island of Saints by Yves and Kathleen Perrin, Ensign, June 1986, 39.