Tuanake

Tuanake

NASA picture of Tuanake Atoll
Tuanake
Geography
Location	Pacific Ocean
Coordinates	16°40′S 144°13′W / 16.667°S 144.217°W / -16.667; -144.217Coordinates: 16°40′S 144°13′W / 16.667°S 144.217°W / -16.667; -144.217
Archipelago	Tuamotus
Area	26 km2 (10 sq mi)  (lagoon) 6 km2 (2 sq mi) (above water)
Length	9.5 km (5.9 mi)
Width	6.5 km (4.04 mi)
Administration
France
Overseas collectivity	French Polynesia
Administrative subdivision	Tuamotus
Commune	Makemo
Demographics
Population	Uninhabited (2012)

Tuanake or Mata-rua-puna is a small atoll of the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located 24 kilometres (15 miles) southwest of Makemo Atoll's westernmost point.

Tuanake Atoll is roughly semicircular in shape. It measures 9.5 kilometres (5.9 miles) in length with a maximum width of 6.5 kilometres (4.0 miles) . There are some narrow islands on the northern side of its reef with a total land area of about 3 square kilometres (1.2 square miles). Its lagoon is connected to the ocean by a pass located in the southern part of the ringing reef.

Tuanake is located only 7.5 kilometres (4.7 miles) to the northwest of Hiti Atoll. The small group formed by Tuanake, Tepoto Sud and Hiti is also known as the "Raevski Atolls".

The first recorded European to sight Tuanake was Russian explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen in 1820.

Tuanake belongs to the commune of Makemo, which consists of the atolls of Makemo, Haraiki, Marutea Nord, Katiu, Tuanake, Hiti, Tepoto Sud, Raroia, Takume, Taenga and Nihiru. Tuanake Atoll is permanently uninhabited.

The Tuamotu reed warbler and the Polynesian ground dove are found in this atoll.