Rangiroa

Rangiroa
NASA picture of Rangiroa Atoll
Rangiroa is located in French Polynesia
Rangiroa
Rangiroa
Geography
LocationPacific Ocean
Coordinates15°07′31″S 147°38′43″W / 15.12528°S 147.64528°W / -15.12528; -147.64528
ArchipelagoTuamotus
Total islands415
Area1,446 km2 (558 sq mi)  (lagoon)
79 km2 (31 sq mi) (above water)
Length80 km (50 mi)
Width32 km (19.9 mi)
Highest elevation12 m (39 ft)
Highest point(unnamed)
Administration
Overseas collectivity French Polynesia
Administrative subdivisionTuamotus
CommuneRangiroa
Capital cityAvatoru
Largest settlementTiputa (pop. 817)
Demographics
Population2,567[1] (2012)

Rangiroa (Tuamotuan for 'vast sky') or Te Kokōta (Cook Islands Māori for 'the Hyades star cluster') is the largest atoll in the Tuamotus and one of the largest in the world (smaller than Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands and Huvadhu in the Maldives).

It is in French Polynesia and is part of the Palliser group. The nearest atoll is Tikehau, 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) to the west. It is about 355 km (221 mi) northeast of Tahiti. Rangiroa is home to about 2,500 people on almost 80 km2 (31 sq mi). The chief town is Avatoru, in the atoll's northwest.

  1. ^ "Population". Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française. Retrieved 15 October 2014.