Motu Iti (Marquesas Islands)

Motu Iti, another name Hatu Iti, previous names Franklin's Iceland, Les Deux Frères, Hergest Rocks, is a small island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, part of the archipelago of the Marquesas.

Geography

The uninhabited island located 42 kilometers northwest of Nuku Hiva, the largest island in the Marquesas. In fact, there Motu Iti of several tiny islets, all rise from the same basaltic base. In the east, the 0.2 -acre main island still a 300 x 80 m measuring, upstream 76 m from the sea projecting rock humps and two smallest rocky reefs. The main island is 670 m long, 565 m wide and reaches a height of 220 meters, it is a geologically very young volcanic island, which consists mainly of basalt rocks. Because of the low geological age Motu Iti is not surrounded by a sea on the outstanding coral reef.

The steep flanks of the main island rise directly from the ocean and are crowned by a high plateau. The highest elevation (without names) is located in the northern third of the island is 220 meters. The closed, nearly vertical cliffs of the inaccessible coast and the heavy surf make a landing extremely difficult.

Flora and Fauna

Flora

The low-growing, thin vegetation of the plateau consists of only four types. It is dominated by Leptochloa xerophila, a grass that belongs to the relationship of love grass ( Eragrostis ). In addition, there are larger patches of Portulaca lutea, a low-growing plant with thick, fleshy leaves, which is in Hawaii at the Polynesian name " ihi " known. Chance come in moist and protected columns, the ferns Phymatosorus scolopendria called in Hawaii " lauae " and Microsorum grossum ago. The botanist Steve Perlman of the National Tropical Botanical Garden in Hawaii, who visited the island in 1988 as part of the Fatuiva expedition of the Smithsonian Institution, the sparse vegetation cover leads back to the grazing of sheep, who presumably exposed Europeans there someday.

Fauna

On Motu Iti and the larger upstream Felsriff 23 species of seabirds are found, of which 16 species nest there as well. Can be found on the uninhabited island ideal nesting sites. The most common species are: Phoenix petrels ( Pterodroma alba), Sooty Terns ( Onychoprion fuscatus ), shearwaters Puffinus Puffinus pacificus and Iherminieri and boobies.

In addition to the Pacific rat (Rattus exulans ), which is a serious problem for the bird colonies today, two types of reptiles are: the Skink Cryptoblepharus poecilopleurus and the Pacific Gecko Gehyra Mutilata.

On the main island live three spider species, two species of land crabs and the ant Monomorium liliuokalanii, an indigenous species in the Marquesas. 258

History

The name Motu Iti is Polynesian origin and means " small island ", but probably Motu Iti was not settled by Polynesian natives permanently, because there is no fresh water sources are known. There are indications, however, for the - perhaps only temporarily - the presence of Polynesians. The botanist Steve Perlman introduced in 1988 on the plateau wall remains unknown origin and unknown age resistant. The population of the Pacific rat (Rattus exulans ), which was carried by Polynesian Seefahren as food animals and the spread on the islands, can also be considered as an indication of the presence of Polynesians.

Joseph Ingraham, an American sea captain, the island passed in sight on April 20, 1791 Motu Iti describes as forested ( well wooded ) and " inhabited " since when passing the ship fires were lit. He named the island Franklin's Iceland after the U.S. President Benjamin Franklin.

The next visitor, just two months later on June 22, 1791 was the French circumnavigator Etienne Marchand, however, also sailed past only on the island. He dubbed them Les Deux Frères ( The two brothers ) after the two brothers from Marseille Les Baux, who had financed his expedition.

The British naval officer Richard Hergest named the island Hergest Rocks, when he on 30 March 1792, for the Daedalus, the supply ship of the Vancouver expedition, happened.

The first scientists to Motu Iti entered on September 19, 1922 should the ornithologist Rollo H. Beck (1870 - 1950) and WB Jones have been of the American Whitney South Seas Expedition.

Today Motu Iti belongs politically to the French overseas country ( pays d' outre- mer - POM) French Polynesia and is used by the community Nuku Hiva (Commune de Nuku Hiva ) managed.

Weblink

• Photo (air intake) on Panoramio, accessed January 20, 2013