Tikehau is located 340 km northeast of Tahiti in the Tuamotu Islands.
The main village is called Tuherahera.
The atoll's oval-shaped lagoon is 27 km long and 19 km wide with a lagoon area of about 461 km2. The atoll is made up of two major islands and numerous islets. The Northeastern quarter of the atoll is a single, mostly uninhabited island. The whole atoll is surrounded by an almost continuous coral reef. There is a single pass deep and wide enough for navigation in and out of the lagoon: Tuheiava Pass is located on the Western shore.
The islands and islets are covered with coconut palms. Tikehau is an ideal destination for all nature lovers. Sea bird colonies have chosen to reside on the innumerable motus which make up the atoll, nestling in the ground or in the miki miki bushes. It is possible to observe them more particularly while on an excursion near the "bird motu".
Tikehau is also one of the Polynesian atolls the most abundant with fish. This abundant underwater fauna also reserves nice surprises for divers who can admire sharks, manta rays, jackfish and other interesting species on the outskirts of the only pass of Tuheiava. |
