Kamaka (previously known as Mito) is an island in the Gambier Islands of French Polynesia, 11.7 km south of Mangareva within the same lagoon. Kamaka is about one kilometre (0.6 miles) in length, 700 metres (2,300 feet) wide, and has an area of 0.5 square kilometres (0.2 square miles). The highest point is 166 metres (545 feet) above sea level. There are no permanent springs on the island.[2]

Kamaka
View of Kamaka Island
Kamaka is located in French Polynesia
Kamaka
Kamaka
Geography
LocationPacific Ocean
Coordinates23°14′39″S 134°37′30″W / 23.24417°S 134.62500°W / -23.24417; -134.62500
ArchipelagoTuamotus
Area0.5 km2 (0.19 sq mi)
Length1 km (0.6 mi)
Width0.7 km (0.43 mi)
Highest elevation166 m (545 ft)
Highest point(unnamed)
Administration
France
Overseas collectivityFrench Polynesia
Administrative subdivisionTuamotus
CommuneGambier Islands
Demographics
PopulationUninhabited[1] (2012)

1.8 kilometres (1.1 miles) to the NNW rises barren and rugged Makaroa island and off Kamaka's northeastern shore lies the small Manui islet.[3]

The island was not permanently inhabited before European contact, with occupation being short-term and focused on fishing.[2] It is now uninhabited.

In 2015 a conservation campaign was unsuccessful in eradicating rats from the island.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ "Population". Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
  2. ^ a b Green, Roger C.; Weisler, Marshall I. (2002). "The Mangarevan Sequence and Dating of the Geographic Expansion into Southeast Polynesia". Asian Perspectives. 41 (2): 216. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  3. ^ David Stanley, Tahiti-Polynesia handbook
  4. ^ "Deux ans après, la dératisation des Actéon-Gambier est un succès" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 11 August 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2022.