Paraoa | |
Map: | French Polynesia |
Location: | Pacific Ocean |
Archipelago: | Tuamotus |
Area Km2: | 14 |
Area Footnotes: | (lagoon) 4km² (above water) |
Length Km: | 8.5 |
Width Km: | 5.5 |
Country: | France |
Country Admin Divisions Title: | Overseas collectivity |
Country Admin Divisions: | French Polynesia |
Country Admin Divisions Title 2: | Commune |
Country Admin Divisions 2: | Hao |
Country Admin Divisions Title 1: | Administrative subdivision |
Country Admin Divisions 1: | Îles Tuamotu-Gambier |
Population: | Uninhabited[1] |
Population As Of: | 2012 |
Paraoa, Tohora, or Hariri[2] is a small atoll of the central Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located 76 km south of Hao Atoll's westernmost point. The closest land is Manuhangi Atoll, 52 km to the west.[3]
Paraoa Atoll is ovular in shape. It measures 8.51NaN1 in length with a maximum width of 5.51NaN1. Its lagoon is not connected to the ocean by a pass, which makes this small atoll quite inaccessible. Paraoa Atoll is uninhabited.
The first recorded European who arrived to Paraoa was Englishman Samuel Wallis in 1767. He named it "Gloucester".[4]
Paraoa belongs to the commune of Hao (Main village: Otepa), which includes also Ahunui (uninhabited), Nengonengo, and Manuhangi (uninhabited).