Taravai

Island in French Polynesia

23°08′12″S 135°01′33″W / 23.13667°S 135.02583°W / -23.13667; -135.02583ArchipelagoTuamotusArea5.7 km² (2.2 sq mi)Highest elevation256 m (840 ft)Highest point(unnamed)Administration

France

Overseas collectivityFrench PolynesiaAdministrative subdivisionTuamotusCommuneGambier IslandsLargest settlementAgonokoDemographicsPopulation9^[1] (2012)

Taravai is the second largest island in the Gambier Islands archipelago of French Polynesia, at 5.7 km². Taravai is about 1.5 km southwest of Mangareva, the largest island of the whole Gambier group, and about 300 m north of the island of Angakauitai. Off its eastern shore lies the tiny rock Îlot Motu-o-ari.

The village named Agonoko is located near the main bay on the island's eastern shore. It has a population of 9 (as of 2012^[update]). Former villages were Aga-nui (northwest) and Agakau-i-uta (southeast).^[2]

The Onemea archaeological site suggests sporadic occupation of the island around AD 950 with a possible continuous settlement since the 13th century.^[3]

Before the conversion to Christianity, the king of Taravai was a vassal to the king of Rikitea in Mangareva.^[4]

View of Taravai and Angakauitai from Mont Mokoto
Church of Saint-Gabriel
View of Mangareva and Aukena from Taravai
Taravai

References

^ "Population". Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
^ Goodbye Gambiers
^ The Onemea site (Taravai Island, Mangareva) and the human colonization of Southeastern Polynesia. Archaeology in Oceania
^ R. W. Williamson, The Social and Political Systems of Central Polynesia, Cambridge University Press, 1924