Atafu, Coral atoll in Tokelau, Pacific Ocean
Atafu is an atoll in the Pacific Ocean that forms part of Tokelau and consists of a triangular formation spanning eight kilometers. Fifty-two small coral islands form a ring that encloses a lagoon stretching five kilometers from north to south.
A British naval officer named John Byron recorded the atoll in 1765 and called it Duke of York Group when he found no inhabitants during his Pacific voyage. People later settled and made it their home, forming the community that lives there today.
The name comes from a Polynesian word referring to the way the islands curve around the inner waters in a ring shape. Locals still use the lagoon for fishing with methods passed down through generations.
The main settlement sits in the northwestern part of the atoll, about two meters above sea level, and there is no runway for planes. Travelers usually reach the atoll by boat from other islands in the region.
The entire atoll became the world's first territory to run completely on solar power in 2012, using panels and battery storage for all electricity needs. This shift allowed residents to live without diesel generators and manage their own energy supply.
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