Anuanurunga

Anuanurunga^[2] is an atoll in French Polynesia, Pacific Ocean. It is part of the Duke of Gloucester Islands, a subgroup of the Tuamotu group. Anuanurunga's nearest neighbor is Nukutepipi, which is located about 22 km (14 mi) to the ESE.

Anuanurunga

NASA picture of Anuanurunga Atoll
Anuanurunga
Geography
Location	Pacific Ocean
Coordinates	20°36′S 143°24′W
Archipelago	Tuamotus
Area	2.6 km2 (1.0 sq mi) (lagoon) 7 km2 (3 sq mi) (above water)
Width	3.3 km (2.05 mi)
Administration
France
Overseas collectivity	French Polynesia
Administrative subdivision	Îles Tuamotu-Gambier
Commune	Hao
Demographics
Population	Uninhabited[1] (2012)

Anuanurunga is a very small atoll. It is ring-shaped, measuring approximately 3.3 km (2.1 mi)in diameter with a total area of 7 km² (3 sq mi). Its reef is quite broad, enclosing completely the small lagoon. There are four relatively large islands on its reef, as well as a few small motu.

Anuanurunga Atoll is currently uninhabited.

History

First sighting recorded by Europeans was by the Spanish expedition of Pedro Fernández de Quirós on 4 February 1606. With the other three atolls of the Duke of Gloucester Islands they were named Cuatro Coronas (Four Crowns in Spanish).^[3]

British naval officer and explorer Philip Carteret visited it in 1767. He named this atoll Four Crowns.^[4]

Administration

Administratively the four atolls of the Duke of Gloucester Islands, including the uninhabited ones of Anuanuruga, Anuanuraro and Nukutepipi, belong to the commune of Hereheretue, which is associated to the Hao commune.