Vairaatea

Vairaatea

NASA picture of Vairaatea Atoll
Vairaatea
Geography
Location	Pacific Ocean
Coordinates	19°21′S 139°13′W / 19.350°S 139.217°W / -19.350; -139.217Coordinates: 19°21′S 139°13′W / 19.350°S 139.217°W / -19.350; -139.217
Archipelago	Tuamotus
Area	13 km2 (5.0 sq mi)  (lagoon) 3 km2 (1 sq mi) (above water)
Length	8 km (5 mi)
Width	4 km (2.5 mi)
Administration
France
Overseas collectivity	French Polynesia
Administrative subdivision	Tuamotus
Commune	Nukutavake
Demographics
Population	57 (2012)

Vairaatea is a small atoll of the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. Geographically Vairaatea Atoll is part of the East-central subgroup of the Tuamotus, which includes Ahunui, Amanu, Fangatau, Hao and Nukutavake. Nukutavake, the closest land, lies 38 kilometres (24 miles) to the east.

Vairaatea Atoll measures 8 kilometres (5 miles) in length and its width is about 4 kilometres (2 miles). Its reef has a roughly triangular shape. There are two long islands on it. The reef completely encloses a 13-square-kilometre (5-square-mile) lagoon. Landing on this atoll is difficult on account of the surf and the lack of a safe anchorage.

In 1989 Vairaatea was inhabited by eight families living in a village at the northern end of Puka Runga, the only inhabited island. According to the 2012 census there were 57 people living in Vairaatea, a drop from 70 in 1996.

The first recorded European who arrived to Vairaatea was the Spanish explorer Pedro Fernández de Quirós on the 9 February 1606. He named this atoll San Miguel Arcángel. However his captains Prado y Tovar and Vaéz de Torres refer to it as Santa Polonia as it was sighted on the day of this Christian martyr.

Englishman Samuel Wallis visited Vairaatea in 1767. He named it "Lord Egmont". In some maps it also appears as "Industriel".

Administratively Vairaatea is part of the commune of Nukutavake.