Fangataufa#History
{{Short description|Atoll in French Polynesia}}
{{Infobox Islands
| name = Fangataufa
| image_name = Fangataufa.JPG
| image_caption = Satellite view of Fangataufa Atoll showing the dark blue depths of the induced crater. Courtesy NASA.
| map = French Polynesia
| map_caption =
| native_name =
| native_name_link =
| nickname =
| location = Pacific Ocean
| coordinates = {{Coord|22|15|S|138|45|W|type:isle_region:FR-PF|display=inline,title}}
| archipelago = Tuamotus
| total_islands =
| major_islands =
| area_km2 = 45
| area_footnotes = {{figure space}}(lagoon)
{{convert|5|km2|0|abbr=on}} (above water)
| length_km = 9.5
| width_km = 9.5
| highest_mount =
| elevation_m =
| country = France
| country_admin_divisions_title = Overseas collectivity
| country_admin_divisions = French Polynesia
| country_admin_divisions_title_2 = Commune
| country_admin_divisions_2 = Tureia
| country_admin_divisions_title_1 = Administrative subdivision
| country_admin_divisions_1 = Tuamotus
| country_capital_city =
| country_largest_city =
| country_largest_city_population =
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| population_as_of = 2012
| ethnic_groups =
| additional_info =
}}
Fangataufa (or Fangatafoa) is an uninhabited coral atoll in the eastern part of the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. The atoll has been fully-owned by the French state since 1964. From 1966 to 1996 it was used as a nuclear test site by the French government. In total, 4 atmospheric and 10 underground nuclear explosions were carried out on the atoll.
Geography
The atoll is a coral outgrowth of a seamount which rises some {{convert|3600|m|ft|abbr=off}} from the seafloor, to a depth of {{convert|-345|m|ft|abbr=off}}.{{cite web |url=https://earthref.org/SC/SMNT-222S-1387W/ |title=Fangataufa Atoll |publisher=Seamount Catalog |access-date=24 October 2022}} The seamount was formed 33.4 - 34.7 million years ago by the Pitcairn hotspot.{{cite journal |title=Basalts from Mururoa, Fangataufa and Gambier islands (French Polynesia): Geochemical dependence on the age of the lithosphere |last1=Dupuy |first1=Claude |last2=Vidal |first2=Philippe |last3=Maury |first3=René C. |last4=Guille |first4=Gérard |journal=Earth and Planetary Science Letters |volume=117 |year=1993 |issue=1–2 |pages=89–100 |doi=10.1016/0012-821X(93)90119-T|bibcode=1993E&PSL.117...89D }}{{cite web |url=https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/Pub1028_web.pdf |title=The Radiological Situation at the Atolls of Mururoa and Fangataufa |publisher= |date=1998 |access-date=24 October 2022}}{{rp|19}} The island is approx. {{convert|9.5|km|mi|abbr=off}} long and {{convert|9.5|km|mi|abbr=off}} wide. It has a lagoon area of {{convert|45|km2|sqmi|abbr=off}} and a land area of {{convert|5|km|mi|abbr=off}}. It is located {{convert|37|km|mi|abbr=off}} south of Moruroa atoll, {{convert|197|km|mi|abbr=off}} east of Tematangi, {{convert|240|km|mi|abbr=off}} southwest of the Gambier Islands and {{convert|1,190|km|mi|abbr=off}} southeast of Tahiti.
Access to the lagoon is through a pass lying {{convert|0.5|mi|km|1|abbr=off}} SW of the northernmost point of the atoll; the channel has a width of about {{convert|60|m|ft|abbr=off}} and a dredged depth of {{convert|6.5|m|ft|1|abbr=off}}. A {{convert|12|m|ft|abbr=off|adj=mid|-long}} quay, in {{convert|2.5|m|ft|1|abbr=off}} of water, is situated in the NE part of the lagoon; another quay, {{convert|50|m|ft|abbr=off}} long in {{convert|5|m|ft|abbr=off}} of water, and landing ramps, were constructed in its E part. The access channel is marked, on each side, by two beacons. There is an abandoned airfield, built to accommodate medium size transport aircraft, on the NE coast of the atoll.
History
The first recorded European to arrive at Fangataufa Atoll was Frederick William Beechey in 1826, who gave it the name "Cockburn island" in honour of George Cockburn.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-324701331/view?sectionId=nla.obj-333743939 |title=LITTLE-KNOWN H-BOMB ATOLLS HAVE A PLACE IN THE HALL OF FAME |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=XXXIII |issue=10 |page=72 |date=1 May 1963 |access-date=24 October 2022 |via=National Library of Australia}}
=Nuclear test site=
Occasionally occupied during the 20th century, the atoll was selected by France in 1963 for use as a nuclear test site to replace Reggane and In Ecker in the Algerian Sahara.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-324701331/view?sectionId=nla.obj-333741852&searchTerm=Fangataufa&partId=nla.obj-324758058 |title=France To Use Five Tuamotu Atolls In H-Bomb Project |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=XXXIII |issue=10 |page=8 |date=1 May 1963 |access-date=24 October 2022 |via=National Library of Australia}} Along with Mururoa, it was formally ceded to France by the Territorial Assembly in 1964.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-331394420/view?sectionId=nla.obj-336425265 |title=FRANCE'S H-BOMB ATOLLS ARE REALLY FRENCH NOW |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=35 |issue=3 |page=18 |date=1 March 1964 |access-date=24 October 2022 |via=National Library of Australia}}
The first nuclear test at Fangataufa was Rigel, an atmospheric test, conducted on 24 September 1966.{{rp|27}} This was followed by three more atmospheric tests, including Canopus, France's first two-stage thermonuclear test, on 24 August 1968.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-327360684/view?sectionId=nla.obj-335917674 |title=No Tahitian bouquets for French bomb success |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=33 |issue=10 |page=26 |date=1 October 1968 |access-date=24 October 2022 |via=National Library of Australia}} The last atmospheric test was Orion, on 2 August 1970.{{rp|27}}
Following increasing criticism from Pacific countries, France switched to underground testing. Preparations began in 1974,{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-333237930/view?sectionId=nla.obj-338477111 |title=Bomb Tests |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=45 |issue=2 |page=8 |date=1 February 1974 |access-date=24 October 2022 |via=National Library of Australia}} and the first test, Achille, was carried out on 5 June 1975.{{rp|28}}{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-334731663/view?sectionId=nla.obj-338712667 |title=BLAST! |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=46 |issue=7 |page=3 |date=1 July 1975 |access-date=24 October 2022 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-334743432/view?sectionId=nla.obj-338628401 |title=Tahiti Letter A scientific bang and a political whimper |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=46 |issue=8 |pages=13–14 |date=1 August 1975 |access-date=24 October 2022 |via=National Library of Australia}} This was followed by a second test, Hector, on 30 November 1975.{{rp|28}}{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-334765460/view?sectionId=nla.obj-338866829 |title=France's biggest bang! |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=46 |issue=10 |pages=12–13 |date=1 October 1975 |access-date=24 October 2022 |via=National Library of Australia}} Testing then moved exclusively to Mururoa until 1988, when growing safety concerns around the stability of Muroroa's atoll saw some testing move to Fangataufa.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-338219956/view?sectionId=nla.obj-341676538 |title=France's Nuclear Site Switch |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=59 |issue=5 |page=16 |date=1 May 1988 |access-date=24 October 2022 |via=National Library of Australia}} Eight further underground tests were conducted on the atoll, with the final one, Xouthos occurring on 27 January 1996.{{rp|29}}
=Since 1998=
Today, Fangataufa serves as a wildlife sanctuary for various species of birds. It is permanently uninhabited, and is classified as a Common Military Zone. The zone includes the lagoon areas enclosed by the atoll and by baselines linking the closest points emerging from the reef on both sides of the channel. Entry is prohibited without authorization. The atoll has been the subject of radiological monitoring since 1998 with an annual environmental sampling campaign carried out by Defense personnel and the Atomic Energy Commission (CEA).{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-352881888/view?sectionId=nla.obj-354532837 |title=Nuclear experts end first impact survey on Mururoa, Fangataufa |work=Pacific Islands Monthly |volume=70 |issue=1 |page= |date=1 January 2000 |access-date=24 October 2022 |via=National Library of Australia}}
In February 2006 an inquiry by the French Polynesian government found that the French government had lied to the local population about the effects of atmospheric testing.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/160228/france-lied-about-nuclear-tests-tahiti-government-commisssion |title=France lied about nuclear tests: Tahiti government {{as written|commis|ssion [sic]}} |publisher=RNZ |date=10 February 2006 |access-date=24 October 2022}} On 15 October 2006, the Assembly of French Polynesia adopted a report on the consequences of nuclear testing which concluded that "nuclear testing has had a major impact on health, the environment, society and the Polynesian economy". The Economic, Social and Cultural Council at the start of this report recommends that "the State recognizes the nuclear fact and assumes its full responsibility accordingly". In November 2008 the French government agreed to compensate military personnel involved in the tests.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/nov/27/france-nuclear-tests-illness |title=France finally agrees to pay damages to nuclear test victims |work=The Guardian |date=27 November 2008 |access-date=24 October 2022}}
In February 2021, the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research INSERM published a report entitled "Nuclear tests and health - Consequences in French Polynesia".{{Cite web|title=Essais nucléaires et santé - Conséquences en Polynésie française|url=https://www.inserm.fr/information-en-sante/expertises-collectives/essais-nucleaires-et-sante-consequences-en-polynesie-francaise|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222114730/https://www.inserm.fr/information-en-sante/expertises-collectives/essais-nucleaires-et-sante-consequences-en-polynesie-francaise|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 22, 2021|access-date=2021-03-06|website=Inserm - La science pour la santé|language=fr}} The objective of this study was to establish an assessment of the available international scientific knowledge on the health consequences of the atmospheric nuclear tests conducted by France in French Polynesia, on the general population and former civilian and military workers.{{Cite book|last=INSERM|url=https://www.inserm.fr/sites/default/files/media/entity_documents/Inserm_ExpertiseCollective_EssaisNucleaires2021_RapportComplet.pdf|title=Essais nucléaires et santé – Conséquences en Polynésie française|publisher=EDP Sciences|year=2020|isbn=978-2-7598-2472-4|series=Expertise Collective|location=Paris|language=fr|access-date=2021-12-17|archive-date=2021-03-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306163204/https://www.inserm.fr/sites/default/files/media/entity_documents/Inserm_ExpertiseCollective_EssaisNucleaires2021_RapportComplet.pdf|url-status=dead}}
Administration
Administratively Fangataufa Atoll is part of the commune of Tureia, which includes the atolls of Tureia, Moruroa, Tematangi and Vanavana.
In January 2012 French Polynesian President Oscar Temaru called for the return of Fangataufa and Mururoa.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/202006/french-polynesia-leader-adamant-paris-return-nuclear-weapons-test-atolls |title=French Polynesia leader adamant Paris return nuclear weapons test atolls |publisher=RNZ |date=17 July 2012 |access-date=24 October 2022}} A bill to return the atolls by Senator Richard Tuheiava passed the Senate of France in 2012,{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/202040/french-senate-approves-bill-to-return-french-polynesian-atolls |title=French senate approves bill to return French Polynesian atolls |publisher=RNZ |date=19 January 2012 |access-date=24 October 2022}} but had not yet been debated by the French National Assembly by the time it was meant to take effect in 2014.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/235683/return-of-nuke-test-sites-yet-to-be-discussed-in-french-assembly |title=Return of nuke test sites yet to be discussed in French Assembly |publisher=RNZ |date=10 February 2014 |access-date=24 October 2022}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{in lang|fr}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20081121020036/http://www.point-zero-penelope.org/ Archives sur le Centre d'Expérimentations Nucléaires du Pacifique (C.E.P.) à Mururoa, Hao et Fangataufa]
{{Tuamotus}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Atolls of the Tuamotus