Permit· Motutunga· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs

Motutunga Protected Atoll

17° 6.0′ S · 144° 22.0′ W

Uninhabited Motutunga (126 km² lagoon, 1.38 km² of land) was listed with Tahanea in February 2001 as a protected and managed natural area, after a survey found Pisonia grandis forest.

TuamotusMarquesas

Practical

Coordinate is the atoll centre (Wikipedia FR, 17°06'S 144°22'W). No residents (2017 census), though copra cutters and pearl-spat growers visit seasonally and use the plywood houses near the passes. The lagoon is not navigable for yachts: the two narrow, shallow north-side passes are named Tepupahea and Marukupeega on Wikipedia, and only the NW channel up to the jetty is usable (see Motutunga Anchorage). Same etiquette as Tahanea: no fires or dogs ashore, no disturbance of nesting birds, no collecting. The atoll belongs to the commune of Anaa.

Best for

Understanding why this atoll is left wild

Nearby