Nukutepipi

Nukutepipi
Geography
Location	Pacific Ocean
Coordinates	20°41′S 143°04′W / 20.683°S 143.067°W
Archipelago	Tuamotus
Area	1.3 km2 (0.50 sq mi)
Length	2.7 km (1.68 mi)
Administration
	France
Demographics
Population	5

20°41′S 143°04′W / 20.683°S 143.067°W / -20.683; -143.067

File:NukutepipiISS002-E-9203.PNG

NASA image of Nukutepipi Atoll

Nukutepipi, or Nuku-te-pipi is an atoll in French Polynesia, Pacific Ocean. It is part of the Duke of Gloucester Islands, a subgroup of the Tuamotu group. Nukutepipi's nearest neighbor is Anuanurunga, which is located about 22 km to the WNW.

Nukutepipi is a very small atoll. It is roughly triangular-shaped, measuring approximately 2.7 km in length. Its reef is quite broad, enclosing completely the small lagoon, which has a deep area at its centre. There are two relatively large islands on its reef, one on its eastern side and the other on the northwest.

Nukutepipi Atoll has 5 inhabitants as of 2002. It has a small airfield which was inaugurated in 1982.

History

First sighting recorded by Europeans was by the Spanish expedition of Pedro Fernández de Quirós on 4 February 1606. With the other three atolls of the Duke of Gloucester Islands they were named Cuatro Coronas (Four Crowns in Spanish).^[1]

British naval officer and explorer Philip Carteret visited it in 12 July 1767 who only referred to it in his logs as "the southernmost island". ^[2] John Turnbull aboard the Margaret March 6, 1803 named it "Margaret island" after their ship. The atoll was visited by lieutenant Ringgold of the Wilkes Expedition on the 6 January 1841. He identified the correct name of the atoll as "Nukutipipi" by the natives.

Administration

Administratively the four atolls of the Duke of Gloucester Islands, including the uninhabited ones of Nukutepipi, Anuanuruga, and Anuanuraro, belong to the commune of Hereheretue, which is associated to the Hao commune.

References

^ Burney, James A chronological history of the discoveries in the South Sea or Pacific Ocean London, 1803, vII, p.326.
^ Sample Chapter(s) for Historical%2

External links

Atoll list (in French)

[1] Burney, James A chronological history of the discoveries in the South Sea or Pacific Ocean London, 1803, vII, p.326.

[2] Sample Chapter(s) for Historical%2

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