Raroia

Raroia, or Raro-nuku, is an atoll of the Tuamotus chain in French Polynesia, located 740 km northeast of Tahiti and 6 km southwest of Takume. Administratively it is a part of the commune of Makemo.

Raroia
NASA picture of Raroia Atoll
Geography
LocationPacific Ocean
Coordinates16°01′S 142°26′W
ArchipelagoTuamotus
Area359 km2 (139 sq mi) (lagoon)
41 km2 (16 sq mi) (above water)
Length43 km (26.7 mi)
Width14 km (8.7 mi)
Administration
France
Overseas collectivityFrench Polynesia
Administrative subdivisionTuamotus
CommuneMakemo
Largest settlementGarumaoa
Demographics
Population233 (2012)

The oval-shaped atoll measures 43 km by 14 km and has a land area of 41 km2. A navigable waterway leads to the central lagoon, which has an area of 359 km2. The population as of the 2012 census was 233. The town of Garumaoa is the main settlement. Raroians live principally on fishing, copra cultivation, and pearl farming.

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