Marutea Nord

NASA picture of Marutea Nord Atoll
Marutea Nord
Geography
Location	Pacific Ocean
Coordinates	17°07′S 143°11′W / 17.117°S 143.183°W / -17.117; -143.183
Archipelago	Tuamotus
Area	458 km2 (177 sq mi)  (lagoon) 2.7 km2 (1.0 sq mi) (above water)
Length	42 km (26.1 mi)
Width	17 km (10.6 mi)
Administration
France
Overseas collectivity	French Polynesia
Administrative subdivision	Tuamotus
Commune	Makemo
Demographics
Population	Uninhabited[1] (2012)

Marutea, or Taunga tauranga-e-havana,^[2] is one of the Tuamotu atolls in French Polynesia. It is located 24 km to the southeast of Makemo Atoll and 30 km southwest of Nihiru Atoll.

Marutea Atoll measures 42 km in length with a maximum width of 17 km. Its lagoon has an area of 458 km² and one pass to enter it. It has a land area of approx 2.7 km². This atoll is very low and its reef is often awash.

Marutea Atoll is permanently uninhabited.

Marutea Nord should not be confused with Marutea Sud located in the far south-eastern reaches of the Tuamotu Archipelago at 21˚ 30'S., 135˚ 32'W.

History

Taunga-tauranga-e-havana, the second native name of Marutea, means "the friendly bird that rested and plumed itself on our mast" —so says Marerenui, a native of Faaite Atoll. There is a legend attached to this name, of which only fragments can be obtained.^[3]

The first recorded European to arrive to Marutea Atoll was Captain James Cook in 1773. Historically Marutea has appeared as "Furneaux Island" in some maps.

Administration

Marutea Nord 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.