Napuka
- ISS006-E-37916
- 12 March 2003
- 20:19 UTC
Napuka is a small atoll located in the far northeastern regions of the archipelago, lying 15 km southeast from its tiny neighbour of Tepoto Nord. The atoll is one of the trio of atolls that form the northeastern grouping known as the Îles du Desappointement.
Napuka consists of a well-developed reef rim, 10.5 km in length and 4 km in width, that encloses an 18 km² lagoon. The lagoon is shallow, particularly in the east; the western side of the lagoon contains many reticulate reef formations and some large patch reefs. Situated on the reef rim are around 30 islets, the largest of which occupies the entire northern rim of the atoll, wrapping around the lagoon for 13 km. Total land area is 8 km².
image: earth sciences and image analysis laboratory, nasa johnson space center
