Nukuoro

Nukuoro

Nukuoro from space. Courtesy NASA.
Map of Nukuoro (without western rim)
Geography
Total islands	40
Area	40 km2 (15 sq mi)
Length	6 km (3.7 mi)
Administration
Federated States of Micronesia
State	Pohnpei
Demographics
Population	372 (2007)
Languages	Nukuoro

Nukuoro is an atoll in the Federated States of Micronesia.

It is a municipality of the state of Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia. Except for Kapingamarangi, it is the southernmost atoll of the country. They both are Polynesian outliers. As of 2007^[update], Nukuoro had a population of 372, though several hundred Nukuorans live on Pohnpei. The total area, including the lagoon, is 40 km² (15 sq mi), with a land area of 1.7 km² (0.66 sq mi), which is divided among more than 40 islets that lie on the northern, eastern, and southern sides of the lagoon. By far, the largest islet is Nukuoro islet, which is the center of population and the capital of the municipality.

The lagoon is 6 km (3.7 mi) in diameter. Fishing, animal husbandry, and agriculture (taro and copra) are the main occupations. A recent project to farm black pearl oysters has been successful at generating additional income for the island's people.

Nukuoro is remote. It has no airstrip, and a passenger boat calls irregularly only once every few months. The island has no tourism except for the occasional visit by passing sailing yachts. There is a 4-room schoolhouse but children over the age of 14 must travel to Pohnpei to attend high school.

The inhabitants speak Nukuoro, which is a Polynesian language related to Kapingamarangi, Rennellese and Pileni languages. Nukuoro and Kapingamarangi constitute parts of the "Polynesian outlier" cultures, lying well outside the Polynesian Triangle.