Raeffsky Islands

Raeffsky Islands

Location of the Raeffsky Islands in the Pacific Ocean

Map of the Tuamotus; the Raeffsky Islands are located in the central region.

The Raeffsky Islands or Raevski Islands (French: Îles Raéffsky or Îles Raevski) is a subgroup with just over 3000 people in the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. They are located roughly in the central area of the main Tuamotu atoll cluster. (Latitude: 16° 45' 0 S, Longitude: 144° 13' 60 W)

Atolls

The Raeffsky Islands include the following atolls:

• Anaa
• Faaite
• Tahanea (uninhabited)
• Motutunga (uninhabited)
• Takume
• Raroia
• Taenga
• Nihiru
• Makemo
• Katiu
• Tuanake (uninhabited)
• Hiti (uninhabited)
• Tepoto (South), Tepoto Sud (uninhabited)
• Marutea Nord (uninhabited)
• Haraiki (uninhabited)
• Aratika
• Kauehi
• Taiaro (private)
• Raraka (uninhabited)

Administration

• The commune of Anaa consists of 4 atolls: Anaa, Faaite, Tahanea and Motutunga. The total population is of 639 inhabitants according to the 2002 census.
• The commune of Makemo consists of 11 atolls: Makemo, Takume, Raroia, Taenga, Nihiru, Kaitu, Tuanake, Hiti, Tepoto (South) (Tepoto Sud), Marutea Nord and Haraiki. The total population is of 964 inhabitants according to the 2002 census.
• The commune of Fakarava consists of 7 atolls in Raeffsky Group: Fakarava, Aratika, Kauehi, Niau, Raraka, Taiaro and Toau. The total population is of 1511 inhabitants.

UNESCO site

The ring-shaped atoll Taiaro provides a rare example of a coral reef with a fully enclosed lagoon. The atoll was officially designated as a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1977.^[1]

References

1. UNESCO (2008). "Biosphere Reserve Information". Unesco.com. Retrieved 11 November 2011.

External links

• Raeffsky Islands Map

Coordinates: 16°45′00″S 144°13′01″W / 16.750°S 144.217°W