Rapa Iti

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Commune in French Polynesia, France

title: "Rapa Iti" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["rapa-iti", "islands-of-the-austral-islands", "communes-of-french-polynesia", "important-bird-areas-of-french-polynesia", "important-bird-areas-of-oceania"] description: "Commune in French Polynesia, France" topic_path: "geography/france" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapa_Iti" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Commune in French Polynesia, France ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox Islands"]

FieldValue
nameRapa Iti
image_nameRapaISS004-E-12980b.PNG
image_captionNASA picture of Rapa
mapFrench Polynesia
map_captionRapa Iti is located in French Polynesia
locationPacific Ocean
coordinates
archipelagoAustrales
area_km240.5
highest_mountMount Perahu
elevation_m650
countryFrance
country_admin_divisions_titleOverseas collectivity
country_admin_divisionsFrench Polynesia
country_admin_divisions_title_2Commune
country_admin_divisions_2Rapa Iti
population451
population_as_of2022
::

| name = Rapa Iti | image_name = RapaISS004-E-12980b.PNG | image_caption = NASA picture of Rapa | map = French Polynesia | map_caption = Rapa Iti is located in French Polynesia | native_name = | native_name_link = | nickname = | location = Pacific Ocean | coordinates = | archipelago = Australes | total_islands = | major_islands = | area_km2 = 40.5 | area_footnotes = | length_km = | width_km = | highest_mount = Mount Perahu | elevation_m = 650 | country = France | country_admin_divisions_title = Overseas collectivity | country_admin_divisions = French Polynesia | country_admin_divisions_title_2 = Commune | country_admin_divisions_2 = Rapa Iti | population = 451 | population_as_of = 2022 | density_km2 = | ethnic_groups = | additional_info = |name = Rapa |commune status = Commune |map = Austral isl Rapa Iti.PNG |image flag = Flag of Rapa.svg |image flag size = |administrative subdivision = Austral Islands |utc offset = −10:00 |INSEE = 98741 |postal code = 98751 |mayor = Tuanainai Narii |term = 2020–2026 |coordinates = |elevation m = |elevation min m = 0 |elevation max m = 650 |area km2 = 40.54 |population = 451 |population date = 2022 |population footnotes =

Rapa, also called Rapa Iti, or "Little Rapa", to distinguish it from Easter Island, whose Polynesian name is Rapa Nui, is the largest and only inhabited island of the Bass Islands in French Polynesia. An older name for the island is Oparo. The total land area including offshore islets is 40.5 km2. As of the 2022 census, Rapa had a population of 451. The island's highest point is at 650 m elevation at Mont Perahu. Its main town is Ahuréi. The inhabitants of Rapa Iti speak their own Polynesian language called the Rapa language.

Geography

Rapa Iti is located at . It is shaped roughly like a Greek final sigma (ς), with a well-protected central bay, surrounded by a ring of relatively high mountains. The whole island appears to be the peak of a sinking volcano, with the bay as well as the caldera. The area of the main island is 38.5 km2. Little Rapa Tauturau is an offshore island.

Its main town, Ahuréi (or Ha'uréi), lies on the southern shore of that bay, which is called the Baie d'Ahuréi. A smaller village, 'Area, is located on the northern shore of the bay. The people are Polynesian. Former times' warfare is indicated by 28 extant ridgetop forts. Today Rapa is home to the Tahitian Choir, in which a third of the island's population sing traditional songs.

Although sometimes considered part of the Austral Islands, Rapa Iti and the Bass Islands have a different geological, linguistic and cultural history.

History

Rapa Iti was first settled by Polynesians, most likely in the 12th century. Their Polynesian dialect developed into what is today the Rapa language over the centuries. It is believed that the depletion of natural resources on the island resulted in warfare, and the inhabitants lived in up to 14 fortified settlements (pa or pare, a type of fort; compare the Māori pā) on peaks and clifftops. It is considered that the oldest of these is Morongo Uta, which was developed .

The first European to visit Rapa Iti was George Vancouver on 22 December 1791; he named the island Oparo. Contact with Europeans brought liquor and disease, and between 1824 and 1830 over three quarters of the natives died. When a handful of their victims were returned to the island, they brought with them smallpox, which caused an epidemic.

The independent island kingdom was declared a French protectorate in 1867. The British established a coaling station on the island, which prompted France to formally annex it on 6 March 1881. Subsequently, the native monarchy was abolished and the last queen, the Daughter of Parima, was deposed on 18 June 1887.

Thor Heyerdahl, notably, made excavations in Morongo Uta, seeking links between Rapa Iti and Rapa Nui (Easter Island).

Climate

Rapa Iti has tropical rainforest climate (Af in the Köppen climate classification, Arab in the Trewartha climate classification), bordering on a very-mild winter humid subtropical climate (Cfa in the Köppen climate classification, Cfal in the Trewartha climate classification). Despite being situated south of the Tropic of Capricorn, the remote location in the middle of a tropical ocean enables the climate to be moderated in all seasons. Summers are hot and muggy, and cyclones are rarer, as the islands are located near the Horse Latitudes at thirty degrees south, despite the exposed location makes the island very windy, tempering the summer weather. Very hot weather is very rare, with the highest temperature recorded was 31.6 °C (88.9 °F) in March. Winters are mild and very stormy, due to the isolated and exposed location of Rapa Iti. Precipitation is abundant in all seasons, and sunshine is uncommon every month of the year. The cool winters and strong winds prohibit ultra tropical fruits such as coconuts to thrive, as it has dropped to 8.5 °C (47.3 °F) in September. In addition, the lack of continental influence promotes the vast seasonal lag, as March is the second-warmest month of the year, while September is the second-coldest. | width = auto | location = Rapa, French Polynesia (1991-2020 normals, extremes 1951-present) | metric first = y | single line = y | Jan high C = 25.7 | Feb high C = 26.5 | Mar high C = 26.2 | Apr high C = 24.5 | May high C = 23.0 | Jun high C = 21.6 | Jul high C = 20.8 | Aug high C = 20.5 | Sep high C = 20.7 | Oct high C = 21.5 | Nov high C = 23.0 | Dec high C = 24.2 | year high C = 23.2 | Jan mean C = 23.7 | Feb mean C = 24.5 | Mar mean C = 24.0 | Apr mean C = 22.4 | May mean C = 20.8 | Jun mean C = 19.3 | Jul mean C = 18.5 | Aug mean C = 18.2 | Sep mean C = 18.4 | Oct mean C = 19.3 | Nov mean C = 20.8 | Dec mean C = 22.2 | year mean C = 21.0 | Jan low C = 21.7 | Feb low C = 22.4 | Mar low C = 21.8 | Apr low C = 20.2 | May low C = 18.6 | Jun low C = 17.1 | Jul low C = 16.3 | Aug low C = 15.9 | Sep low C = 16.1 | Oct low C = 17.0 | Nov low C = 18.6 | Dec low C = 20.1 | year low C = 18.8 | Jan record high C = 31.0 | Feb record high C = 30.9 | Mar record high C = 31.6 | Apr record high C = 30.3 | May record high C = 28.1 | Jun record high C = 26.3 | Jul record high C = 25.5 | Aug record high C = 25.0 | Sep record high C = 26.4 | Oct record high C = 26.4 | Nov record high C = 28.9 | Dec record high C = 30.1 | Jan record low C = 12.2 | Feb record low C = 15.6 | Mar record low C = 15.2 | Apr record low C = 13.5 | May record low C = 10.1 | Jun record low C = 10.2 | Jul record low C = 9.8 | Aug record low C = 8.9 | Sep record low C = 8.5 | Oct record low C = 10.5 | Nov record low C = 12.0 | Dec record low C = 13.2 | Jan precipitation mm = 227.2 | Feb precipitation mm = 204.9 | Mar precipitation mm = 256.3 | Apr precipitation mm = 234.8 | May precipitation mm = 172.2 | Jun precipitation mm = 215.4 | Jul precipitation mm = 237.5 | Aug precipitation mm = 209.0 | Sep precipitation mm = 148.1 | Oct precipitation mm = 177.8 | Nov precipitation mm = 143.1 | Dec precipitation mm = 209.6 | precipitation colour = green | year precipitation mm = 2435.9 | unit precipitation days = 1 mm | Jan precipitation days = 13.4 | Feb precipitation days = 12.9 | Mar precipitation days = 15.6 | Apr precipitation days = 14.8 | May precipitation days = 14.2 | Jun precipitation days = 15.7 | Jul precipitation days = 15.3 | Aug precipitation days = 15.0 | Sep precipitation days = 12.7 | Oct precipitation days = 12.0 | Nov precipitation days = 10.5 | Dec precipitation days = 13.2 | year precipitation days = 165.3 | Jan sun = 131.0 | Feb sun = 133.8 | Mar sun = 130.9 | Apr sun = 115.0 | May sun = 102.8 | Jun sun = 93.4 | Jul sun = 101.1 | Aug sun = 120.6 | Sep sun = 123.4 | Oct sun = 133.7 | Nov sun = 134.3 | Dec sun = 125.0 | year sun = 1444.9 | source 1 = Meteo France{{cite web | url = https://donneespubliques.meteofrance.fr/FichesClim/FICHECLIM_98741001.pdf | title = Fiche Climatologique | publisher = Meteo France | accessdate = February 2, 2021

Environment

The Manatau French Polynesian Reserve is a special French Polynesian Reserve to protect the animals and ridgetop forts of an area of southern Rapa. It is located near South Ahuréi.

The island is home to the endemic and critically endangered Rapa fruit dove which is threatened by habitat loss, predation by feral cats and hunting. Its population was estimated in 2017 at 160 individual birds. The critically endangered Rapa shearwater is endemic to surrounding islets. Other birds include the least concern Murphy's petrel, which nest there in small numbers, and the near threatened bristle-thighed curlew which is a non-breeding visitor while migrating. Because of its significance for these species the island has been identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.

Administration

The commune of Rapa consists of the island of Rapa Iti and the four uninhabited Marotiri rocks.

References

References

  1. (13 September 2022). "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises.
  2. (January 2023). "Les résultats du recensement de la population 2022 de Polynésie française". Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française.
  3. [http://www.tahitiguide.com/@en-us/article.asp?article_id=3/42/297 Tahiti guide]
  4. [http://www.pewtrusts.org/~/media/assets/2016/01/environnementmarindesilesaustrales.pdf Environnement marin des îles Australes]
  5. F. Allan Hanson, ''Rapan Lifeways'' (1970)
  6. "The prehistory of Rapa Island".
  7. [http://www.cdnn.info/news/science/sc060825.html CDNN] {{webarchive. link. (August 29, 2006)
  8. (2006). "Prehistoric human impacts on Rapa, French Polynesia". Antiquity.
  9. "The Earliest Foreign Visitors and Their Massive Depopulation of Rapa-iti from 1824 to 1830". [[Journal de la Société des Océanistes]].
  10. Brash, Celeste. (2009). "Tahiti and French Polynesia". Lonely Planet.
  11. (2000). "Infectious Diseases: Colonising the Pacific? (review)". Bulletin of the History of Medicine.
  12. Hanson, F. Allan. "Rapa: Une île polynésienne hier et aujourd’hui". Société des Océanistes.
  13. (2012). "Rapa". BirdLife International.

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rapa-itiislands-of-the-austral-islandscommunes-of-french-polynesiaimportant-bird-areas-of-french-polynesiaimportant-bird-areas-of-oceania