Tetiaroa
Aerial view of the island of Teti'aroa
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 17°0′S 149°33′W / 17.000°S 149.550°WCoordinates: 17°0′S 149°33′W / 17.000°S 149.550°W |
| Archipelago | Society Islands |
| Area | 6 km2 (2.3 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
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France
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| Overseas collectivity | French Polynesia |
| Administrative subdivision | Windward Islands |
| Commune | Arue |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 1 |
Teti'aroa is an atoll in the Windward group of the Society Islands of French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the Pacific Ocean. Once the vacation spot for Tahitian royalty, the atoll is widely known for having been purchased by Marlon Brando.
Teti'aroa is administratively part of the commune (municipality) of 'Ārue.
The atoll is located 33 miles (53 kilometres) north of Tahiti. The atoll stretches on a total surface of 2.3 square miles (6 square kilometres); approximately 1,445 acr (585 hectares) of sand are divided in 12 motus (islets) with varying surface areas. The lagoon is approximately 4.5 miles (7.2 kilometres) wide and 100 feet (30 metres) deep. The atoll has no reef opening, making access by boat nearly impossible.
The islets (or motus), in clockwise order starting from the southwest corner, include:
The atoll of Teti'aroa holds a special place in the hearts of the people of French Polynesia. It has become almost a “sacred spot” for the people. In historic times, Teti'aroa belonged to the Pomare family, rulers of Tahiti. The royal family placed Teti'aroa in the care of faithful retainers who managed it and lived there.
Members of the royal family spent time on Teti'aroa when they needed quiet time and relaxation. The female members of the family are said to have gone there to eat (gain weight) and stay out of the sun (have their skin lighten up) “for the purposes of beautifying their person.” According to legend, in times of trouble the King placed his treasures there for safekeeping. In 1789, William Bligh is said to have been the first European to visit the atoll while looking for early mutineers prior to the departure of the HMS Bounty which eventually suffered a full mutiny.
In 1904, the royal family gave Teti'aroa to Johnston Walter Williams, the only dentist in Tahiti. Williams later became Consul of the United Kingdom from 1916 to 1935. Williams managed Teti'aroa as a residence and a copra plantation.
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Wikipedia