Nanumea
| Nanumea | |
|---|---|
| Atoll | |
 Nanumea atoll from space |
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 Nanumea
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| Coordinates: 05°41′S 176°12′E / 5.683°S 176.200°ECoordinates: 05°41′S 176°12′E / 5.683°S 176.200°E | |
| Country | Tuvalu |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.9 km2 (1.5 sq mi) |
| Population (2012) | |
| • Total | 544 |
| • Density | 140/km2 (360/sq mi) |
| ISO 3166 code | TV-NMA |
Nanumea is the northwesternmost atoll in the Polynesian nation of Tuvalu, a group of nine coral atolls and islands spread over about 400 miles (640 km) of Pacific Ocean just south of the equator and west of the International Date Line. Nanumea is 4 km sq. with a population of 544 people (2012 census).
Located at along one edge of the so-called Polynesian triangle, Nanumea lies just south of the Gilbert Islands, which are Micronesian in language and culture. Nanumea is a classic atoll, a series of low islets sitting on a coral reef shelf surrounding a lagoon. About 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) long by 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) wide in overall size, the dry land area is about 3.9 square kilometres (1.5 sq mi).
The Nanumea Conservation Area covers about 2 square kilometres (0.77 sq mi) of the central lagoon and consists of about 10% of the reef area of the atoll, including marine habitats and 2 islets. A survey of the conservation zone was conducted in 2010.
The larges villages are Lolua with 186 people (2012) and Haumaefa with 187 people (2012). The junior school is Kaumaile Primary School. There are scattered households across the lagoon from Nanumea village at Matagi and on Motu Foliki, and on the southeastern tip of Lakena islet. The two largest islets, comprising over 90% of the dry land area of the atoll, are Nanumea and Lakena. In addition there are three much smaller islets, Motu Foliki, Lafogaki and Te Afua-a-Taepoa spread around the encircling reef flat.
The pulaka pits are located on Lakena as the Nanumeans want the main island of Nanumea to remain mosquito free. Pulaka is grown in large pits of composted soil below the water table.
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Wikipedia