Marutea Sud

Marutea Sud
NASA picture of Marutea Sud Atoll
Marutea Sud is located in French Polynesia
Marutea Sud
Marutea Sud
Geography
LocationPacific Ocean
Coordinates21°31′S 135°33′W / 21.517°S 135.550°W / -21.517; -135.550
ArchipelagoTuamotus
Area112 km2 (43 sq mi) (lagoon)
12 km2Error in convert: Unit name "km<sup>2</sup>" is not known (help) (above water)
Length20 km (12 mi)
Width8 km (5 mi)
Administration
France
Overseas collectivityFrench Polynesia
Administrative subdivisionÎles Tuamotu-Gambier
CommuneGambier
Largest settlementAuorotini
Demographics
Population245[1] (2016)

Marutea Atoll (Marutea Sud), also known as Lord Hood Island, Marutea-i-runga, and Nuku-nui, is an atoll in the far southeast of the Tuamotu group of French Polynesia. It lies in the east-northeast part of the Gambier (commune), about 72 km northeast from Maria Atoll.

Marutea Atoll is irregular in shape and bound by a reef broken by passes into the 112 km2 (43 sq mi) lagoon. It is 20 km (12 mi) long with a maximum width of 8 km (5 mi) and a land area of approximately 12 km2 (5 sq mi). Its islands are low and flat and the main village, Auorotini, is located at the northern end of the atoll. It is populated by ex Gambier Islanders looking for pearls and maintaining the pearl farms on the atoll.

Marutea Sud should not be confused with Marutea Nord located in the western area of the Tuamotu Archipelago at 17˚ 07' S, 143˚ 11' W.

  1. ^ "Population". Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française. Retrieved 6 October 2014.