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) |
| Time zone | UTC−10:00 |
| 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 located in Raiatea, the smallest island of the Îles Sous le Vent (Leeward Islands) in French Polynesia.[1] Uturoa is the administrative center of the administrative subdivision of the Leeward Islands[2] and is the main port of the island of Raiatea.[3] According to the 2017 census, Uturoa had a population of 3,736.[4] Uturoa is approximately 120 miles (193.121 km) northwest of Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia.
History
The first settlers of Uturoa were early Polynesians that came from Southeast Asia. They built simple shelters using grass and tree branches with their diet consisting mostly of fish, wild animals, wild tubers, bee honey, and wild fruits. The first European to visit Uturoa was the Portuguese navigator Pedro Fernandez de Quirós in 1606. Quirós refers to the island as Fugitive in his maps.[5]
In the 18th century, the famed British Captain James Cook visited Uturoa while passing through French Polynesia during his attempt to map out the Pacific Ocean. Later on, Charles Darwin explored Uturoa, Moorea, and the other Society Islands. The forces of Queen Mamea raided Uturoa in 1896, in retaliation for the French annexation of her kingdom, and killed several traders.[6] Don the Beachcomber also lived in Uturoa for many years.
Government
The current mayor of Uturoa is Shree Murthy, who was re-elected for a second term in 2014.[7] Shree Murthy's second term will end in 2020.
The previous mayor was Phillippe Brotherson, who served 39 years until his death in 2008.
Geography
Uturoa is approximately 209 miles (270 km) from Teahupo'o, a district of Tahiti, and is located close to a reef break. It is the northernmost point on the island of Raiatea and features the views of Bora Bora, Taha'a, and Huahine. The commune is approximately 5 ft (1.5 m) above sea level. The mountains of Uturoa form coastal ranges, as they are not located very far inland. Uturoa is situated between the small pass of Taha'a and the forest-covered mountains of Raiatea. Mount Tapioi, 294 meters high, is one of the best vantage points to observe the lagoon and the neighboring islands.[8] Certain beaches of Uturoa contain black sand, partially due to past volcanic eruptions.
Uturoa shares the island of Raiatea with the communes Taputapuatea to the southeast and Tumaraa to the south. The nearest other islands are Huahine, located about 31 miles (50 km) east from Raiatea, and are home to the large community of Fare and Tahaa, which sits just across the strait to the north. The main island of Bora Bora (Anau) can be seen from Uturoa.
Weather
The climate of Uturoa is mild and rainy, with temperatures usually ranging from 20-30 degrees Celsius throughout the year. The rainy season lasts from November until May, during which it rains on an average 17 days per month. Humidity levels hover around 80% and remain consistent throughout the year, with the sun shining for an average of 200 hours a month.[9] August is the month with the least amount of rain.[10]
Transportation Facilities
Airport
Raiatea Airport (IATA code RFP, ICAO code NTTR) is a single-runway airport located in the east of Uturoa serviced by Air Tahiti. There are 157 flights on 5 different routes, connecting Raiatea Airport to the nearby islands of Papeete, Huahine, Bora Bora, Maupiti and Moorea. The airport's runway was constructed from concrete and it ends at Uturoa's eastern edge.[11]
Harbor
Ferries from Raiatea sail to Tahaa in the north, Vaitape/Bora Bora in the northwest and Tahiti in the southeast. The harbor's size is limited by a short coastline. Matira Beach, Bora Bora is a place you can visit while in Uturoa. One of the very limited public access beaches of the island, it is an extremely popular selection among travelers. The beach features white sand, crystal clear waters and is the perfect atmosphere to relax.
Recreation
There are parks located near the Uturoa harbor, with the closest one being the Uturoa Coastal Park. The parks in the mountains close to Uturoa provide beautiful views of both the harbor and the city. School parks are found throughout Raiatea. They usually have wide-open spaces. The local town market of Uturoa opens daily at sunrise. This market offers a selection of souvenirs, fresh seafood, and other produce.[12] Uturoa is also an important center for yacht chartering bases.
Sports
Popular sports in Uturoa include football and basketball. Tourists have made water sports extremely popular in the area, with numerous examples being sailing, jet skiing, water skiing, kayaking, snorkeling, windsurfing and fishing.
Marine ecology
Uturoa is rich in flora and fauna. Tourists are very fond of stingrays (or "fevers", as they are called locally) and harmless baby sharks — both of which can be seen while snorkeling and are a source of joy for divers. [13]
See also
References
- ^ "Raiatea". Archived from the original on 2019-02-07. Retrieved 2019-02-04.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|encyclopedia=ignored (help) - ^ Décret n°<rc-c2d-number> 2005-1611 </rc-c2d-number>du 20 décembre 2005 pris pour l'application du statut d'autonomie de la Polynésie française, Légifrance[dead link]
- ^ "Raiatea". Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2018-05-29.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ https://weather-and-climate.com/average-monthly-Rainfall-Temperature-Sunshine,Uturoa-raiatea-pf,French-Polynesia
- ^ "Raiatea Airport (RFP) Routes - Destinations | Airportia". www.airportia.com. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
- ^ Heiderstadt, Donna. "Uturoa Market". AFAR. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
- ^ https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g309691-d2254175-r142328592-Hemisphere_Sub-Raiatea_Society_Islands.html
External links
- Harbor master website
Media related to Uturoa at Wikimedia Commons
