Takaroa
{{short description|Atoll in French Polynesia}}
{{Infobox Islands
| name = Takaroa
| image_name = Takaroa.JPG
| image_caption = NASA picture of Takaroa Atoll
| map = French Polynesia
| map_caption =
| native_name =
| native_name_link =
| nickname =
| location = Pacific Ocean
| coordinates = {{Coord|14|27|S|144|59|W|type:isle_region:FR-PF}}
| archipelago = Tuamotus
| total_islands =
| major_islands =
| area_km2 = 93
| area_footnotes = {{sp}}(lagoon)
{{convert|20|km2|0|abbr=on}} (above water)
| length_km = 24.7
| width_km = 7
| 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 = Takaroa
| country_admin_divisions_title_1 = Administrative subdivision
| country_admin_divisions_1 = Îles Tuamotu-Gambier
| country_capital_city =
| country_largest_city = Teavaroa
| country_largest_city_population =
| country_leader_title =
| country_leader_name =
| population_as_of = 2022
| ethnic_groups =
| additional_info =
}}
{{Infobox French commune
|name = Takaroa
|image =
|caption = NASA satellite image of Takaroa atoll
|map = Localización Islas Rey Jorge en las Tuamotu.png
|administrative subdivision= Îles Tuamotu-Gambier
|utc offset = −10:00
|INSEE = 98749
|postal code = 98781
|mayor =
|term =
|intercommunality =
|coordinates = {{coord|-14.45|-144.983|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation m = 0
|elevation min m =
|elevation max m =
|area km2 = 26
|population = 1050
|population date = 2022
|demonym =
|website =
}}
Takaroa, Taka-roa or Takapua, is an atoll in the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. It has a length of {{convert|27.4|km|mi|1|abbr=off}} and a width of {{convert|7|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}; its land area is {{convert|20|km2|0|abbr=off}}.
The nearest land is Takapoto Atoll, located {{convert|10|km|mi|0|abbr=off}} to the southwest.
Fine pearls, including black pearls, were obtained in the lagoon of Takaroa.{{Citation needed|date=December 2011}}
Geographically Takaroa is part of the King George Islands (Iles du Roi Georges) subgroup, which includes Ahe, Manihi, Takapoto, Takaroa and Tikei.
Takaroa Atoll has 537 inhabitants (2022). The main village is Teavaroa.
Takaroa is the northernmost atoll in French Polynesia.
Takaroa is located in the Tuamotu Islands.
History
The first recorded Europeans to arrive to Takaroa were Dutch explorers Jacob le Maire and Willem Schouten on 14 April 1616 during their Pacific journey. They called this atoll "Sondergrond Island".
Captain Cook visited the island in 1774.{{cite book|last1=Salmond|first1=Anne|title=Aphrodite's Island|date=2010|publisher=University of California Press|location=Berkeley|isbn=9780520261143|pages=[https://archive.org/details/aphroditesisland00salm/page/299 299]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/aphroditesisland00salm/page/299}}
Takaroa territorial airport was inaugurated in 1986.
Geography
=Climate=
Takaroa has a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen Af), bordering upon a tropical monsoon climate (Am). The average annual temperature in Takaroa is {{cvt|27.9|C}}. The average annual rainfall is {{cvt|1528.6|mm}} with December as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in March, at around {{cvt|28.8|C}}, and lowest in August, at around {{convert|26.7|C}}. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Takaroa was {{cvt|35.6|C}} on 20 January 1998; the coolest being {{cvt|19.5|C}} on 10 January 1976.
{{Weather box
|location= Takaroa (1991–2020 averages, extremes 1951−present)
|metric first= Y
|single line= Y
|temperature colour = pastel
|Jan record high C = 35.6
|Feb record high C = 35.3
|Mar record high C = 35.0
|Apr record high C = 33.5
|May record high C = 33.8
|Jun record high C = 33.3
|Jul record high C = 31.6
|Aug record high C = 32.1
|Sep record high C = 31.9
|Oct record high C = 33.0
|Nov record high C = 33.0
|Dec record high C = 33.8
|year record high C = 35.6
|Jan high C = 30.7
|Feb high C = 30.8
|Mar high C = 31.1
|Apr high C = 31.0
|May high C = 30.4
|Jun high C = 29.5
|Jul high C = 28.9
|Aug high C = 28.8
|Sep high C = 29.1
|Oct high C = 29.7
|Nov high C = 30.3
|Dec high C = 30.5
|year high C = 30.1
|Jan mean C = 28.3
|Feb mean C = 28.4
|Mar mean C = 28.8
|Apr mean C = 28.8
|May mean C = 28.3
|Jun mean C = 27.5
|Jul mean C = 27.0
|Aug mean C = 26.7
|Sep mean C = 27.0
|Oct mean C = 27.4
|Nov mean C = 27.9
|Dec mean C = 28.1
|year mean C = 27.9
|Jan low C = 25.8
|Feb low C = 26.0
|Mar low C = 26.5
|Apr low C = 26.5
|May low C = 26.1
|Jun low C = 25.5
|Jul low C = 25.0
|Aug low C = 24.7
|Sep low C = 24.8
|Oct low C = 25.1
|Nov low C = 25.5
|Dec low C = 25.6
|year low C = 25.6
|Jan record low C = 19.5
|Feb record low C = 20.9
|Mar record low C = 21.6
|Apr record low C = 21.3
|May record low C = 21.2
|Jun record low C = 20.2
|Jul record low C = 20.0
|Aug record low C = 20.9
|Sep record low C = 20.6
|Oct record low C = 20.3
|Nov record low C = 20.9
|Dec record low C = 20.7
|year record low C = 19.5
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 197.4
|Feb rain mm = 170.9
|Mar rain mm = 128.6
|Apr rain mm = 115.9
|May rain mm = 109.6
|Jun rain mm = 92.6
|Jul rain mm = 65.1
|Aug rain mm = 65.9
|Sep rain mm = 83.3
|Oct rain mm = 121.7
|Nov rain mm = 158.5
|Dec rain mm = 219.1
|year rain mm = 1528.6
|unit rain days = 1.0 mm
|Jan rain days = 16.3
|Feb rain days = 14.5
|Mar rain days = 13.3
|Apr rain days = 10.9
|May rain days = 11.4
|Jun rain days = 11.0
|Jul rain days = 10.4
|Aug rain days = 9.4
|Sep rain days = 10.0
|Oct rain days = 12.3
|Nov rain days = 14.7
|Dec rain days = 15.5
|year rain days = 149.7
|Jan sun = 223.4
|Feb sun = 212.9
|Mar sun = 238.5
|Apr sun = 233.9
|May sun = 223.5
|Jun sun = n/a
|Jul sun = n/a
|Aug sun = n/a
|Sep sun = n/a
|Oct sun = n/a
|Nov sun = n/a
|Dec sun = 213.1
|year sun = n/a
|source 1 = Météo-France{{cite web
| url = https://donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr/FichesClim/FICHECLIM_98749001.pdf
| title=Fiche Climatologique Statistiques 1991-2020 et records
| language = fr
| publisher = Météo-France
| access-date = August 27, 2022}}
|source 2 = Meteociel (sunshine 1981-2010){{cite web|url=https://www.meteociel.fr/obs/clim/normales_records.php?code=98749001&normes=2010&normes2=0|title=Normales et records pour Takaroa (987)|publisher=Meteociel|access-date=3 June 2022}}}}
Administration
The commune of Takaroa consists of the islands of Takaroa, Takapoto and Tikei.[https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000000695062 Décret n°72-407 du 17 mai 1972 portant création de communes dans le territoire de la Polynésie française], Légifrance
See also
References
{{reflist}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080228203046/http://www.thetahititraveler.com/islandguide/takaroaintro.asp]
- [http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/91943.html]
- [http://www.jps.auckland.ac.nz/document/Volume_8_1899/Volume_8,_No._4,_December_1899/Names_of_the_Paumotu_Islands,_by_J.L._Young,_p_264-268?action=null Atoll names]
- [http://www.nla.gov.au/cdview/nla.map-rm531&mode=moreinfo le Maire & Schouten]
External links
- [http://www.pacific-image.pf/pages/boutic/dboutic_cdrom_sp132.html Atoll list (in French)]
{{Tuamotus}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Atolls of the Tuamotus
Category:Communes of French Polynesia
{{FrenchPolynesia-geo-stub}}