13,721
edits
Rapa Rapa: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
m
→Geography
mNo edit summary |
m (→Geography) |
||
| Line 67: | Line 67: | ||
"''Rapa Rapa''" is the indigenous Polynesian name for the island. The term, which employs the Polynesian linguistic characteristic of {{wp|reduplication}}, means "small island". | "''Rapa Rapa''" is the indigenous Polynesian name for the island. The term, which employs the Polynesian linguistic characteristic of {{wp|reduplication}}, means "small island". | ||
==Geography== | ==Geography== | ||
Rapa Rapa is an {{wp|atoll}} actually consisting of three distinct landmasses, approximately 11.29 square miles in land area, much of which is in a main section of the island known as "the mountain" with smaller, thin and flat strips of land forming a partial lagoon by surrounding Rapa Rapa. Most, but not all, people living on Rapa Rapa live on the mountain, with the five historic villages surrounding the outer, low-lying perimeter of the main island. The surrounding land enclosing the lagoon is colloquially known as "the shield", and has varying widths with mostly habitable land and some beaches along its length. The final major island within the atoll is known as Navy Island, which sits relatively near the opening to the lagoon. Navy Island is, as the name suggests, the primary location of the various [[Royal Navy (Urcea)|Royal Navy]] garrisons and barracks on Rapa Rapa, though many officers reside in quarters on the mountain. The space between Navy Island and the mountain is usually referred to simply as the "Big Harbor", and the Big Harbor is the primary site of maritime economic and military activity, including the Port of Rapa Rapa and military docks. | Rapa Rapa is an {{wp|atoll}} actually consisting of three distinct landmasses, approximately 11.29 square miles in land area, much of which is in a main section of the island known as "the mountain" with smaller, thin and flat strips of land forming a partial lagoon by surrounding Rapa Rapa. Most, but not all, people living on Rapa Rapa live on the mountain, with the five historic villages surrounding the outer, low-lying perimeter of the main island though primarily clustered towards the western half of the island. The surrounding land enclosing the lagoon is colloquially known as "the shield", and has varying widths with mostly habitable land and some beaches along its length. The final major island within the atoll is known as Navy Island, which sits relatively near the opening to the lagoon in the western half of the lagoon. Navy Island is, as the name suggests, the primary location of the various [[Royal Navy (Urcea)|Royal Navy]] garrisons and barracks on Rapa Rapa, though many officers reside in quarters on the mountain. The space between Navy Island and the mountain is usually referred to simply as the "Big Harbor", and the Big Harbor is the primary site of maritime economic and military activity, including the Port of Rapa Rapa and military docks. | ||
[[File:Bora Bora ISS006.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Rapa Rapa and its lagoon as seen from space.]] | [[File:Bora Bora ISS006.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Rapa Rapa and its lagoon as seen from space.]] | ||
In terms of political geography, almost all of Rapa Rapa's 11.29 square miles are covered by Rapa Rapa City, an urban settlement which gradually integrated all five historic villages on the island after Urcean colonization. The city has varied levels of density throughout, with the five village centers remaining the most dense parts of the urban landscape. The overall city density, 313 people per square mile, means that significant parts of the island within city limits remain forested to some degree or are part of the main mountain dominating the island. | In terms of political geography, almost all of Rapa Rapa's 11.29 square miles are covered by Rapa Rapa City, an urban settlement which gradually integrated all five historic villages on the island after Urcean colonization. The city has varied levels of density throughout, with the five village centers remaining the most dense parts of the urban landscape. The overall city density, 313 people per square mile, means that significant parts of the island within city limits remain forested to some degree or are part of the main mountain dominating the island. | ||