Tepoto (North)


Tepoto, also known as Te Poto, Toho, or Pukapoto, is a coral island. It is the northwesternmost of the Disappointment Islands, in the Tuamotu Archipelago. Despite being often referred to as "atoll", Tepoto is not a typical Tuamotu atoll, but a single separate island without lagoon. It is located at the limit of the Tuamotu archipelago; the closest land is Napuka, which lies to the southeast.
Tepoto is long and wide; it has an area of. This island is sometimes called Tepoto Nord in French, to avoid confusion with Tepoto Atoll to the southwest, in the Raeffsky Islands of central Tuamotu. An obsolete name is Otuho.
According to the 2012 census, its population was 61 inhabitants. The primary village is Tehekega. There is a 5m wide road running around the whole island.
In 2018 there were about 40 residents, 13 of which were children under the age of 12.

History

The first recorded European to arrive at Tepoto Nord was explorer John Byron in 1765.
He named Napuka and Tepoto "Disappointment Islands" because the natives were of a hostile disposition.

Administration

Tepoto Nord belongs to the commune of Napuka. The commune of Napuka consists of the atolls of Napuka and Tepoto Nord.

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