Îles Maria or simply Maria, also known as Hull Island[1], is a coral atoll in the Pacific Ocean. It is administratively within the Tubuai (Austral Islands) division of French Polynesia. Its native name is "Nororotu". The atoll consists of four islets (îles), with a dense atoll forest[2] and a very shallow lagoon, supporting numerous bird species.[3] The island is uninhabited now, but at one time was the site of a penal colony.[4] Copra is occasionally harvested at the island.[3] It is named for the whaler Maria, who sighted the island in 1824.[3], which was captained by George Washington Gardner, a Nantucket sea captain (1778-1838).[5] It is not to be confused with an atoll named Maria in the Gambier Islands, also in French Polynesia, which is sometimes differentiated with the name Maria Est (East).[6] There is also another island once known as Hull Island in the Phoenix Islands, which is now known as Orona.
References
- ^ "13. South and Southeast", Vikings of the Sunrise. New Zealand Electronic Text Center. Retrieved on 2007-09-06.
- ^ Tubuai tropical moist forests (OC0116). World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved on 2007-09-06.
- ^ a b c Hilary Rodgers, Tony Wheeler, Jean-Bernard Carillet (2003). Tahiti & French Polynesia. Lonely Planet. ISBN 1740592298.
- ^ UN Systemwide Earthwatch Site. United Nations Environment Programme. Retrieved on 2007-09-06.
- ^ Dunmore, John (1992); Who's Who in Pacific Navigation, Australia:Melbourne University Press, ISBN 052284488X, pp114-115
- ^ Tuamotu Archipelago - Maria. Oceandots.com. Retrieved on 2007-09-06.
- Maria - from OceanDots
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Tubuai Islands: Tubuai • Raivavae • Rimatara • Rurutu • Maria |  |
| Bass Islands: Rapa • Marotiri | ||
| Archipelagos of French Polynesia: Australs • Gambiers • Marquesas • Societies • Tuamotus | ||
