Manuae (Society Islands)
Map of Manua'e
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | South Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 16°31′S 154°42′W / 16.517°S 154.700°WCoordinates: 16°31′S 154°42′W / 16.517°S 154.700°W |
| Archipelago |
Society Islands Leeward Islands |
| Area | 3.5 km2 (1.4 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
| Overseas country | French Polynesia |
| Demographics | |
| Population | c.17 (2002) |
| Pop. density | 4 /km2 (10 /sq mi) |
The atoll of Manua'e, also known as Scilly, is located approximately 60 km (37 mi) to the northwest of Maupiha'a (a.k.a. Mopelia) and 255 km (158 mi) to the west of Maupiti. It is the westernmost of the Society Islands' Leeward Islands, located 217 mi. (350 km) west of Bora Bora and 342 mi. (550 km) west of Pape'ete.
Manua'e consists of a ring of islands approximately 6–7 mi. in diameter, separated by unnavigable passages, rising just a few feet above sea level. The motus are covered primarily with coconut palms and tropical scrub with sandy beaches, and comprise a total land area of about 3.5 km2 (1.4 sq mi).
The atoll is administratively part of the commune (municipality) of Maupiti, itself in the administrative subdivision of the Leeward Islands.
The atoll's lagoon, home to a number of rare species, has been a nature reserve since 1992. The beaches are popular with sea turtles, including the endangered Green Sea Turtle, which come annually to lie on Manua'e's beaches beginning each November. The atoll is also home to large oyster beds, containing up to 3 or 4 million oysters.
Manua'e's first European visitor was British navigator Samuel Wallis, in 1767. A small village was established there at the time, the remains of which can still be found on the northern part of the main island. The atoll was the site of the 1855 shipwreck of the three-masted Julia Ann. Its crew and passengers, including twenty-four women and children, lived on the atoll for two months, during which time they were able to build a boat with which they were able to sail to Ra'iātea. There is no evidence that the islands were ever permanently inhabited prior to the shipwreck of the Julia Ann, a ship whose passengers were mainly Latter-day Saints on their way from Australia to the United States. Beginning in 1952, the islands were regularly visited by copra merchants. During the 1960s, these casual visitors began capturing large numbers of sea turtles until their activities were legally restricted in 1971. Today the atoll is visited regularly by fishermen from Ra'iātea.
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Wikipedia