Fakarava

Template: Infobox Atoll / Maintenance / height Missing

Fakarava is an atoll located in the Tuamotu Archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, about 490 km northeast of Tahiti.

Geography

The nearest atoll is Toau, 14 km northwest of the town. Fakarava is with an area of ​​60 × 25 km and an area of ​​nearly 1200 km ² the largest atoll of the same community. Politically, it is part of French Polynesia, where the homonymous municipality Fakarava. The lagoon is 1153 km ² with one of the largest in Polynesia, the land area is, however, only about 16 km ². Fakarava is composed of numerous elongated Motus, especially in the north and east of the atoll, just a few meters rise above the sea level. The lagoon of the atoll has two navigable passages, Garuae the largest navigable lagoon passage in all of Polynesia, and the southern passage Tumakohuna.

History

Fakarava was discovered by Bellinghausen for Europe from the Baltic German officer Fabian Gottlieb on October 10, 1820, he called it Wittgenstein.

The people of Fakarava were Christianized by the Belgian Jesuit Father Honoré Laval 1849. The first church was completed in 1850.

Infrastructure and tourism

An airfield was opened in 1995 on Fakarava. He has the FAA / IATA code: FAV and the ICAO code: NTGF.

The island has several hotels and is a popular tourist destination, especially for divers. From time to time the atoll of cruise ships is underway.

The atoll had 2007 855 inhabitants, spread over several villages. Capital is Rotoava in the Northeast.

Fakarava received by the UNESCO status of a biosphere reserve.