Fangataufa

Fangataufa
Satellite view of Fangataufa Atoll showing the dark blue depths of the induced crater. Courtesy NASA.
Fangataufa is located in French Polynesia
Fangataufa
Fangataufa
Geography
LocationPacific Ocean
Coordinates22°15′S 138°45′W / 22.250°S 138.750°W / -22.250; -138.750
ArchipelagoTuamotus
Area45 km2 (17 sq mi)  (lagoon)
5 km2 (2 sq mi) (above water)
Length9.5 km (5.9 mi)
Width9.5 km (5.9 mi)
Administration
France
Overseas collectivityFrench Polynesia
Administrative subdivisionTuamotus
CommuneTureia
Demographics
PopulationUninhabited[1] (2012)

Fangataufa (or Fangatafoa) is an uninhabited coral atoll in the eastern part of the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. The atoll has been fully-owned by the French state since 1964. From 1966 to 1996 it was used as a nuclear test site by the French government. In total, 4 atmospheric and 10 underground nuclear explosions were carried out on the atoll.

  1. ^ "Population". Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française. Archived from the original on 11 April 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2014.