Geography Mataiva

mataiva lagoon



mataiva in french polynesia

the atoll s oval-shaped lagoon 5.3 km wide , 10 km long, , surrounded land. in lagoon decaying coral morphed linear rocky structures 50 300 meters wide. of these coral structures top above water, forming 70 basins. varying depths of these basins , clear water gives lagoon blue , green tesselated appearance when viewed above. type of lagoon structure unique in french polynesia. rich phosphate deposits have been discovered @ bottom of these basins, estimated 10 15 million tonnes. although similar deposits exist in makatea , nauru, mataiva inhabitants , ecosystems protection activists have prevented exploitation time being.

the lagoon open sea @ single pass in northwest, site of pahua, village on atoll. pass @ pahua few feet deep , not navigable; 110 m (360 ft.) concrete levee, connects 2 halves of village, longest bridge in french polynesia. number of narrow passages (known in tuamotuan hoa a) along south-central part of reef known 9 eyes , giving name atoll. aside rocky coral features, there several small islets located within lagoon serving sanctuary , breeding ground rare maritime birds.

the forest on atoll vastly untouched human activity.