Akamaru Island

Island in French Polynesia

23°10′52″S 134°54′56″W / 23.18111°S 134.91556°W / -23.18111; -134.91556ArchipelagoTuamotusArea2.1 km² (0.81 sq mi)Length2.8 km (1.74 mi)Width1.6 km (0.99 mi)Highest elevation247 m (810 ft)Highest point(unnamed)Administration

France

Overseas collectivityFrench PolynesiaAdministrative subdivisionTuamotusCommuneGambier IslandsDemographicsPopulation22^[1] (2012)Pop. density10/km² (30/sq mi)

Akamaru is the third largest island in the Gambier Islands of French Polynesia. It is a small, rocky island with an area of approximately 2.6 km² (1.0 sq mi). The island is located approximately 7 km (4.3 mi) southeast of Mangareva, which is the largest island of the whole Gambier Islands archipelago. Akamaru's highest point rises to an elevation of 247 m (810 ft).

The first European to arrive was the navigator James Wilson in 1797. In 1834, the French missionary Honoré Laval celebrated the first Mass on the island. The church of Notre-Dame de la Paix was built between 1835 and 1862. People from Mangareva sometimes visit to maintain the church and pick oranges in season. According to the 2012 census, there are 22 inhabitants.^[2]

The much smaller island of Mekiro is located just off (about 100 m) Akamaru's northwestern shore.

View on Akamaru island from Mangareva island

Gallery

View of Akamaru and Mekiro
Church of Notre-Dame de la Paix
Alley of coconut trees
View on Mangareva island from Akamaru
Palms

References

^ "Population". Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française. Archived from the original on 11 April 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
^ "Caractéristiques des individus de Gambier". Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française. Archived from the original on 23 September 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.