 NASA picture of Ahe Atoll | |
  Ahe | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 14°29′S146°19′W / 14.483°S 146.317°W /-14.483; -146.317 |
| Archipelago | Tuamotus |
| Area | 138 km2 (53 sq mi)(lagoon) 12 km2 (5 sq mi) (above water) |
| Length | 23.5 km (14.6 mi) |
| Width | 12.2 km (7.58 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 10 m (30 ft) |
| Highest point | (unnamed) |
| Administration | |
France | |
| Overseas collectivity | French Polynesia |
| Administrative subdivision | Tuamotus |
| Commune | Manihi |
| Largest settlement | Tenukupara (pop. 100) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 552[1] (2012) |
| Pop. density | 47/km2 (122/sq mi) |
Ahe,Ahemaru orOmaru,[2] is acoralatoll in the northernTuamotu Archipelago, 14 km to the west ofManihi, inFrench Polynesia. Its ring shape is broken by only a single small passage into the lagoon. It has a land area of approximately 12 km2 and a lagoon area of 138 km2. As of 2012[update], Ahe Atoll had 553 inhabitants. The only village in Ahe is Tenukupara with approximately 100 inhabitants. It is located on an island in the south side of the Atoll.[3]
The Atoll is part of theKing George Islands (Iles du Roi Georges) subgroup, which includesAhe,Manihi,Takapoto,Takaroa andTikei. There are severalpearl farms in Ahe'slagoon.
The first recorded Europeans to arrive to Ahe Atoll were Dutch marinersWillem Schouten andJacob Le Maire in 1616. Ahe was later visited by the United States Exploring Expedition, 1838–1842.[4]Charles Wilkes called the atoll "Peacock Island" after one of the ships of the expedition.[5] This atoll has sometimes suffered damage caused bycyclones.[6]
In the late 1970s, sailorBernard Moitessier lived on Ahe for two years.[7]
Population of Ahe:
| 1977 | 1983 | 1988 | 1996 | 2002 | 2007 | 2012 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 109 | 142 | 162 | 377 | 441 | 566 | 552 | ||
| Sources ISPF,[8] Mairie de Ahe[9] * : estimation | ||||||||
Ahe Atoll belongs to the commune of Manihi, which consists of the atolls of Manihi and Ahe.[10]
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