ISS002E7427 "Image courtesy of the Image Analysis
Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center": http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
TIKEHAU
Tikehau atoll seen from the Space Shuttle.
ISS006E37407 "Image courtesy of the Image Analysis
Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center": http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
MAKATEA
Makatea atoll seen from the Space Shuttle.
ISS002E7426 "Image courtesy of the Image Analysis
Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center": http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
RANGIROA
Rangiroa is
the biggest Tuamotu atoll in French Polynesia, it's located 355 kilometers from
Papeete. The atoll has a land area of 7900 hectares. Rangiroa’s lagoon measures
80 kilometers in length, 32 kilometers at its widest part and 5 kilometers at its
smallest width. Rangiroa is the most popular tourist destination in the Tuamotu
Archipelago. Avatoru and Tiputa are the two villages of the atoll. The Rangiroa's first
European visitors were the Dutch explorers Schouten and Le Maire in 1616.
Rangiroa atoll seen from the Space Shuttle. Rangiroa is the largest of the Tuamotu. Second largest
atoll in the Pacific (78 km long and 24 km wide, smaller only than Kwajalein in the
Marshall Islands).
STS080-750-76 "Image
courtesy of the Image Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center":
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
The beach of the Sofitel Kia Ora Village
(in 1988), Rangiroa atoll.
The beach of the Sofitel Kia Ora Village
(in 1988), Rangiroa atoll.
AHE
Ahe is an
almost entirely-enclosed coral atoll, located in the the northern Tuamotu Archipelago,
just to the southwest of Manihi. Its ring shape is broken by only a single small passage.
The only village is Tenukupara, on the south side of the island, with approximately 100
inhabitants. There are several pearl farms in the lagoon.
Ahe atoll seen from the Space Shuttle.
ISS007E16671 "Image courtesy of the Image Analysis
Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center": http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
MANIHI
Manihi is
situated 500 kilometers northeast of Papeete. It forms an oval with a length of 27
kilometers and a width of about 8 kilometers. The lagoon measures an average 8 kilometers
wide by 27 kilometers long. The atoll has an area land of 1300 hectares. The first
European discoverers of Manihi were the Dutch navigators Le Maire and Schouten, who
arrived in 1616.
Manihi atoll seen from the Space Shuttle.
ISS006E37110 "Image courtesy of the Image Analysis
Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center": http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
ARUTUA
Arutua (520
inhabitants) is almost circular in shape with a diameter of 29 kilometers. There is one
pass through the coral reef for small boats located at the entrance to the village of
Rautini, the main village. The area land of the atoll is 1500 hectares. The first European
visitor of Arutua was Roggeveen in 1722.
Arutua atoll seen from the Space Shuttle.
ISS004E3329 "Image courtesy of the Image Analysis
Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center": http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
KAUKURA
Kaukura atoll seen from the Space Shuttle.
ISS006E38473 "Image courtesy of the Image Analysis
Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center": http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
APATAKI
Apataki atoll seen from the Space Shuttle.
ISS006E38475 "Image courtesy of the Image Analysis
Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center": http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
TAKAPOTO
Takapoto atoll (North East side) seen from the Space Shuttle.
ISS002E8861 "Image courtesy of the Image Analysis
Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center": http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
Takapoto atoll (South West side) seen from the Space Shuttle.
ISS002E6369 "Image courtesy of the Image Analysis
Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center": http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
TAKAROA
Takaroa is
24 kilometers long and 8 kilometers wide. The remains of ancient marae are found
among the “miki miki” bushes. Black Tahiti cultured pearls from Takaroa’s
lagoon are famous for their quality. The 1996 census recorded a population of 488. The
first European discoverers of Takaroa were the Dutch navigators Le Maire and Schouten, who
arrived in 1616.
Takaroa atoll seen from the Space Shuttle.
ISS009E06028 "Image courtesy of the Image Analysis
Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center": http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
Takapoto (on the left side) and Takaroa
(on the right side) atolls seen from the Space
Shuttle.
"Image courtesy of the
Image Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center": http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
