Tenararo facts for kids
NASA picture of Tenararo Atoll
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 Tenararo
Location in French Polynesia
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 21°18′S 136°45′W / 21.300°S 136.750°W |
| Archipelago | Tuamotus |
| Area | 2 km2 (0.77 sq mi) (lagoon) 1.6 km2 (0.6 sq mi) (above water) |
| Administration | |
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France
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| Overseas collectivity | French Polynesia |
| Administrative subdivision | Tuamotus |
| Commune | Gambier Islands |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited (2012) |
Tenararo is a tiny island in the Pacific Ocean. It's an atoll, which is a ring-shaped coral reef with a lagoon in the middle. Tenararo is part of the Acteon Group of islands. You can find it in the southeastern Tuamotu Islands in French Polynesia. It's also part of the Gambier Islands area. No one lives on Tenararo.
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Exploring Tenararo's Geography
Tenararo is the smallest atoll in its island group. It is located about 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) west of Vahanga. Vahanga is the closest island to Tenararo. The island is also about 115 kilometers (71 miles) west of the main Gambier Islands. It is much further from Tahiti, about 1,370 kilometers (851 miles) to the southeast.
What Does Tenararo Look Like?
Tenararo is shaped like a circle. Its land area is about 1.6 square kilometers (0.6 square miles). The lagoon inside the atoll covers about 2 square kilometers (0.8 square miles). There is a place on the northwest side of the island where boats can land. This spot is between small rocks on the reef. However, there is no way for boats to enter the lagoon itself.
Tenararo's Past: A Look at Its History
The first time Tenararo was officially seen by Europeans was on February 5, 1606. This was during a Spanish trip led by the Portuguese sailor Pedro Fernández de Quirós. He called the group of islands Las Cuatro Coronadas, meaning "the four crowned" islands. This name likely came from the many coconut palm trees on them. However, his notes about these islands were not very detailed.
Who Visited Tenararo?
The first clear visit to Tenararo happened on March 14, 1828. An explorer named Hugh Cuming arrived on his ship, the Discoverer. The ship was captained by Samuel Grimwood. After that, another visit took place in 1833. This time, it was navigator Thomas Ebrill on his trading ship Amphitrite. Then, in 1837, Lord Edward Russell visited. He was the commander of the ship H.M.S Actaeon. The island group was later named the Acteon Group after his ship.
Becoming a French Territory
At one point, a man named Captain Nicholas owned Tenararo. But the island was bought back in 1934. In the 1800s, Tenararo became a territory of France. Around 1850, about 20 local people lived on the island.
Amazing Animals and Plants of Tenararo
Tenararo is a very important home for many animals. Some of these animals are in danger of disappearing forever. The island is a special place because it does not have any introduced animals that hunt other animals, like cats or rats. This makes it a safe place for many rare birds.
Rare Birds Living on the Atoll
Many unique bird species live on Tenararo. These include:
- The Polynesian ground dove: There are fewer than 120 of these birds left in the wild.
- The atoll fruit dove: Another rare bird that calls Tenararo home.
- The Tuamotu sandpiper: A small shorebird found only in this region.
- The bristle-thighed curlew: A long-legged bird that migrates to the island.
- Murphy's petrel: A seabird that nests on the island.
Because Tenararo is free from predators, it is a key place for protecting these amazing species.
See also
- Matureivavao
- Tenarunga
- Vahanga
- Acteon Group
- Desert island
- List of islands
In Spanish: Tenararo para niños
