Arutua

Arutua extends across 31 kilometers in length and 24 kilometers in width, forming a pentagonal shape with a deep lagoon measuring 484 square kilometers.

Dutch explorer Jakob Roggeveen first documented the atoll in 1722, and British navigator Frederick Beechey later named it Cockburn Island during his 1826 expedition.

The settlement of Rautini serves as the administrative center for three atolls: Arutua, Apataki, and Kaukura, reflecting the regional organization of French Polynesian communities.

The atoll contains one navigable passage to access its lagoon, while an airport built in 1984 provides regular connections to other parts of French Polynesia.

The underwater foundation of Arutua originated from a volcanic mountain that formed between 60.2 and 62.1 million years ago, now supporting a coral reef ecosystem.

Location: Arutua

Part of: Palliser Islands

GPS coordinates: -15.30000,-146.75000

Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:45