Uturoa
Uturoa | |
|---|---|
 Location of the commune (in red) within the Leeward Islands | |
Location of Uturoa  | |
| Coordinates: 16°43′52″S 151°26′35″W / 16.731°S 151.443°W | |
| Country | France |
| Overseas collectivity | French Polynesia |
| Subdivision | Leeward Islands |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2014-2020) | Sylviane Terooatea |
| Area 1 | 15 km2 (6 sq mi) |
| Population (2017) | 3,736 |
| • Density | 250/km2 (650/sq mi) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 98758 /98735 |
| Elevation | 0–479 m (0–1,572 ft) |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Uturoa is a commune of French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. Uturoa is located on the island of Raiatea, which is the largest island of the Îles Sous le Vent (Leeward Islands), the western part of the Society Islands.[1] It is the administrative centre of the administrative subdivision of the Leeward Islands.[2] Uturoa is the main port of Raiatea Island.[3] At the 2017 census it had a population of 3,736.[4] Uturoa is about 120 miles (200 km) northwest of Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia.
History
Early Polynesians traveling from Southeast Asia were the first settlers in Uturoa. They built their houses from branches and grass. Their main source of food was fish, bananas, and apples. The first European to visit Uturoa was Portuguese navigator Pedro Fernandez de Quirós in 1606. He charted the island as Fugitive.[5] During the 1700s, Captain James Cook traveled to Tahiti and many more French Polynesian islands in an effort to map most of the Pacific Ocean. Later, Charles Darwin would arrive, exploring Moorea and the other Society Islands. An 1896 raid by the forces of Queen Mamea in retaliation for the French annexation of her kingdom killed several traders.[6] Don the Beachcomber resided in Uturoa for some of his life. Uturoa experienced major population growth during the 1940s.
Government
The current mayor of Uturoa is Sylviane Terooatea. She was re-elected in 2014 for a second term.[7]
Geography
Uturoa is around 169 miles (270 km) from Teahupo'o, a district of Tahiti. Teahupo is close to a reef break that has enormous swells. The northernmost point is Raiatea, which has a view of Bora Bora, Taha'a, and Huahine. The commune is about 5 ft (1.5 m) above sea level. The mountains of Uturoa are not far inland and sometimes touch the coast and form coastal ranges. Uturoa is situated between the small pass of Taha'a and the forest-covered mountains of Raiatea. This small territory is located between a blue lagoon and Mount Tapioi, 294 meters high.[8] Some beaches of Uturoa have black sand partially due to past volcanic eruptions. The beaches give way to an industrialized coast filled with cranes and container ships.
Weather
The temperature in Uturoa usually ranges between 20-30 degrees Celsius throughout the year. The rainy season occurs from November - May during which it rains on average 17 days per month. Humidity levels hover around 80% and remain consistent throughout the year. The average monthly hours of sunlight are consistantly over 200 hours. [9]
Transport
Raiatea Airport is a single-runway airport located in Eastern Uturoa. The airport is a connection to the nearby islands. The runway was constructed from concrete and ends at the eastern edge. Air Tahiti is one of the main airlines in Uturoa, providing extended overseas flights to Faa'a International Airport in Tahiti. Ferries from Raiatea sail to Tahaa in the north, Vaitape/Bora Bora in the northwest, and to Tahiti in the southeast. Most airlines in Tahiti are American, such as Delta, United, JetBlue, and Frontier.
Harbour
Container ships and ferries are found throughout the harbor. The ferries sail to the other Society Islands such as Bora Bora and Moorea. The harbor's size is limited by a short coastline.
Nearby Communes
Uturoa shares the island of Raiatea with the communes Taputapuatea (to the southeast) and Tumaraa to the south. The nearest other islands are Huahine, which is about 31 miles (50 km) east from Raiatea and is home to the large community of Fare; and Tahaa, which is just across the strait to the north. The main island of Bora Bora (Anau) can be seen from Uturoa.
Recreation
Uturoa has parks near the harbor, with the closest one being the Uturoa Coastal Park. The parks on the mountains close to Uturoa provide beautiful views of both the harbor and the city. School parks are found throughout Raiatea and usually have wide open spaces. Uturoa has a local town market, open daily at sunrise. The market offers a selection of souvenirs and fresh seafood and produce.[10]
Sports
Popular sports in Uturoa include football and basketball. Due to high rates of tourism, water sports, including sailing, jet skiing, water skiing, kayaking, windsurfing and fishing, are also popular.
See also
References
- ^ "Raiatea". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 2019-02-07. Retrieved 2019-02-04.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Décret n° 2005-1611 du 20 décembre 2005 pris pour l'application du statut d'autonomie de la Polynésie française, Légifrance
- ^ "Raiatea". Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2018-05-29.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Répartition de la population en Polynésie française en 2017, Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française
- ^ Burney, James A chronological history of the discoveries in the South Sea or the Pacific Ocean London, 1803, vII, p.326.
- ^ "Mamea is Plucky". The Saint Paul Globe. No. Page 9. 12 April 1896. Archived from the original on 14 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Loubet, Mireille. "Uturoa : Sylviane Terooatea réélue largement". TAHITI INFOS, les informations de Tahiti (in French). Retrieved 2018-11-30.
- ^ Stanley, David (2003-08-26). Moon Handbooks Tahiti: Including the Cook Islands. David Stanley. ISBN 9781566914123.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-06-13. Retrieved 2018-06-05.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Heiderstadt, Donna. "Uturoa Market". AFAR. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
External links
