Napuka, or Pukaroa, is a small coral atoll in the Disappointment Islands, in the northeastern part of the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located only 15km to the southeast of Tepoto Nord, its nearest neighbor, forming a small group. These two atolls are quite isolated, the nearest land being Fangatau Atoll 170km to the south.

Napuka Atoll is 10.5km long and about 4km wide. Its reef is quite broad, completely enclosing the lagoon. The total dry land area of the thirty islands on Napuka's reef is 8km2. The surface of the lagoon is 18km2.

Napuka has 255 inhabitants according to the 2022 census. The main village is Tepukamaruia (Te Puka Maru Ia).

History

The first recorded European to reach Napuka Atoll was the British explorer John Byron, in 1765. He named Napuka and Tepoto "Disappointment Islands" because he found the natives to be of a hostile disposition toward him.

Napuka was visited by the historic United States Exploring Expedition, on 23 Aug. 1839. This atoll was probably the one that Charles Wilkes called "Wytoohee" or "Wutoohee".

The airport on Napuka opened in 1977.

Administration

The commune of Napuka consists of the atolls of Napuka and Tepoto Nord.

References

• Atoll names

• Origin of the name (in German)

• United States Exploring Expedition, - Charles Wilkes

• Napuka airport

External links

• Atoll list (in French)

• A journey to the Disappointment Islands