Editing Rikitea

{{Short description|Town on Mangareva, part of the Gambier Islands in French Polynesia}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                   = Rikitea
|other_name             =
|native_name            =
|settlement_type        = Town
|image_skyline          =Vue Rikitea 2006.jpg
|imagesize              =
|image_caption          =
|pushpin_map            = French Polynesia
|pushpin_label_position = left
|pushpin_map_caption    = Location in French Polynesia
|subdivision_type       = Country
|subdivision_name       = {{flag|France}}
|subdivision_type1      =Overseas collectivity
|subdivision_name1      ={{flag|French Polynesia}}
|subdivision_type2      =Territory
|subdivision_name2      =Gambier Islands
|subdivision_type3      = Island
|subdivision_name3      =[[Mangareva]]
|subdivision_type4      =
|subdivision_name4      =
|leader_title           =
|leader_name            =
|established_title      =
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|area_total_km2         =
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|coordinates            = {{coord|23|7|13|S|134|58|9|W|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes    = 
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}}
'''Rikitea''' is a small town on [[Mangareva]], which is part of the [[Gambier Islands]] in [[French Polynesia]]. A majority of the islanders live in Rikitea.{{Sfn|Brash|Carillet|2009|p=240}}<ref name=French>{{Cite web|url=http://population.mongabay.com/population/french-polynesia/4030556/rikitea|title=Population of Rikitea, French Polynesia|access-date=15 June 2015|publisher= population.mongabay.com}}</ref> The island was a protectorate of [[France]] in 1871 and was annexed in 1881.{{Sfn|Stanley|1999|p=266}}

==History==
The town's history dates to the era when the island was first settled with people from the [[Marquesas Islands]] in 1100 AD. Captain [[James Wilson (explorer)|James Wilson]] of the [[London Missionary Society]] arrived in 1797 on [[Duff (1794 ship)|''Duff'']], naming the islands after the [[England|English]] [[James Gambier, 1st Baron Gambier|Admiral James Gambier]] who had facilitated his expedition.{{Sfn|Stanley|1999|p=266}}

Before the Catholic missionaries' arrival, [[Human cannibalism|cannibalism]] was practiced under the rule of the local kings. French [[Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary|Picpus]] priests Father [[François Caret]] and Father [[Honoré Laval]], of the [[Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary|Congregation for the Sacred Hearts]], landed here in 1834. They arrived from [[Chile]].<ref name= world>{{cite book|title=Cruising World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m4nAvLdI8z0C&pg=PA53|date=October 2006|pages=53–|issn= 0098-3519}}</ref> Father [[Hippolyte Roussel]], who had arrived at Rikitea with more than 100 [[Rapa Nui people]] on 4 July 1871, assumed charge of Laval's Rikitea mission, and served there till he died in 1898.{{Sfn|Fischer|1997|p=35}}
The figure of 9,000, mentioned by some, when Laval arrived is regarded as being hugely exaggerated. In 1825, the population was estimated at 1500. When the missionaries arrived in 1834 they counted 2,124 souls. Increasing contact with the outside world brought contagious diseases to Mangareva savagely decimating the population. There had already been several major epidemics before 1863, including one which is said have killed half the population.
The story about Laval driving the population to their deaths was spread by a French judge, Louis Jacolliot, who dabbled in the occult and had a grudge against Laval and wanted to discredit him. For 9,000 people to have lived on the islands, many would have to live on the hillsides due to the small amount of flat ground, but there is no evidence of houses ever being built there. Also, if 8,500 people died because of Laval, there would be that number of graves, or at least mass graves, but there is not.

==Geography==
[[File:Mont Duff AKK 051.jpg|right|thumb|Rikitea in the foreground and [[Mount Duff|Mont Duff]] in the background]]
Rikitea is a port town and tourist center situated on Mangareva Lagoon, which contains a number of [[Motu (geography)|motu]]. It is about {{convert|1650|km}} southeast of [[Tahiti]], to the North of the [[Tropic of Capricorn]]. The average elevation of the town is {{convert|8|m}}.{{Sfn|Kelly|2008|p=202}}{{Sfn|Brash|Carillet|2009|p=240}}<ref name="French"/><ref name=Britt>{{Cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/place/Gambier-Islands|title=Gambier Islands:Archipelago, French Polynesia|access-date=15 June 2015|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica}}</ref>

The total population of the island was 1100 and most of them lived in Rikitea.{{Sfn|Stanley|1999|p=266}}

Two mountains, [[Mount Duff|Mt. Duff]] ({{convert|482|m}}) and [[Mont Mokoto|Mt. Mokoto]] ({{convert|426|m}}), which are approachable by trails, are north of the town.{{Sfn|Stanley|1999|p=266}}<ref name=Britt/> The climb to Duff's peak takes about 90 minutes. The stones found on the hill were used by the ethnic Mangarevans to predict weather and to look for boats headed for the island.{{Sfn|Brash|Carillet|2009|p=240}} The mountain is covered with tall aeho grass.{{Sfn|Stanley|1999|p=266}}

==Economy==
Black pearls are cultured on numerous platforms on both sides of the Mangareva lagoon.{{Sfn|Brash|Carillet|2009|p=240}} The lagoon is full of corals and black-lipped oysters are harvested by the people.<ref name= world/> The inhabitants are also involved in agriculture and fishing to the minimum level.<ref name=Britt/> The church is involved in technical school (CED, "Center for Educational Development) to train people in skill trades such as carpentry, mechanics, electricity, and mother-of-pearl shell engraving.<ref name= Carlson>{{Cite web|last=Carlson |first=Dany T. |url=http://pvs.kcc.hawaii.edu/holokai/geography/1999_islands/mangareva.html |title=Mangareva:Mangareva Today (1999) |access-date=15 June 2015|publisher= pvs.kcc.hawaii.edu}}</ref>

==Landmarks==
[[File:Cathédrale Saint-Michel de Rikitea.2014.jpg|right|thumb|[[St. Michael's Cathedral, Rikitea|St. Michael's Cathedral]]]]
[[File:Station.Rikitea.jpg|thumbnail|Meteorological station]]
Father [[Honoré Laval]] built 116 stone buildings and arches,{{Sfn|Stanley|1999|p=266}} and roads were laid. Buildings included a fortified palace with [[folly|follies]] as well as [[St. Michael's Cathedral, Rikitea|St. Michael's Cathedral]] which has also been characterized as a folly. The structures were built with shaped coral stone blocks.<ref name= world/> Several of the structures dating to Laval's time still remain, such as the watch towers on the coast and a turret, the remains of the palace built for [[Maputeoa]], the last king of the island.{{Sfn|Brash|Carillet|2009|p=240}} King [[Maputeoa]]'s crypt is in the St. Pierre's Chapel behind the neo-Gothic St. Michael's Cathedral.{{Sfn|Stanley|1999|p=265}}<ref name=tahitiheritage>{{cite web|url=http://www.tahitiheritage.pf/fiche-mausole-du-roi-maputeoa-23730.htm|title=Mausolée du Roi Maputeoa|publisher=Tahiti Heritage|access-date=20 June 2015}}</ref>

The [[Rouru Convent|''Couvent Rouru'' (Rouru Convent)]], near the southern end of the cemetery, is now in ruins, but housed 60 nuns at one time.{{Sfn|Brash|Carillet|2009|p=240}} There is a carving school near the cathedral at Camika CED which features mother of pearl carvings. Here training is provided in the art of shell engraving. Pendants and barrettes created here can be purchased at the centre's sales outlet. Riktea has a large nuclear fall-out shelter which was built at the time of the French atmospheric testing at Moruroa.{{Sfn|Stanley|1999|p=266}}

The town also has post office, a few shops, a military establishment, a medical room, and schools.{{Sfn|Stanley|1999|p=266}} Accommodation of note includes Chez Pierre et Mariette near the wharf, with three rooms, and Pension Bianca et Benoit, in the southern part of the town.{{sfn|Stanley|2004|p=268}}

==Transportation==
The town is accessed by air and by ship. The airport is located on [[Totegegie Airport|Mou Totegegie]], {{convert|9|km}} to the northeast. From the airport, boats provide the only access to Rikitea. Flights operate from [[Pape'ete]] and take four and half hours. Travel by ship originates only from Pape'ete, a journey of 21 days, with stops at four other islands before arriving at the Rikitea.{{Sfn|Kelly|2008|p=201}} A {{convert|28|km|mi|adj=on}} road circles the entire island.{{Sfn|Stanley|1999|p=266}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book|last1= Brash |first1=Celeste |last2= Carillet |first2=Jean-Bernard |title=Tahiti and French Polynesia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t8Uj6i5oDcgC&pg=PA240|year=2009|publisher=Lonely Planet|isbn=978-1-74104-316-7}}
* {{cite book|last= Fischer |first=Steven R. |title=Rongorongo: The Easter Island Script : History, Traditions, Texts|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tj16rYA5xK0C&pg=PA35|year=1997|publisher=Clarendon Press|isbn=978-0-19-823710-5}}
* {{cite book|last= Kelly |first=Alexis C. |title=Fodor's Tahiti & French Polynesia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ygatUeVPVeMC&pg=PA202|date=21 October 2008|publisher=Fodor's Travel Publications|isbn=978-1-4000-0683-0}}
* {{cite book|last= Stanley |first=David |title=South Pacific Handbook|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_w6zguqsU7x0C|page= [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_w6zguqsU7x0C/page/n265 266] |year=1999|publisher=David Stanley|isbn=978-1-56691-172-6}}
* {{cite book|last=Stanley|first=David|title=Moon Handbooks South Pacific|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_EDGapfBX-CAC|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_EDGapfBX-CAC/page/n287 268]|year=2004|publisher=David Stanley|isbn=978-1-56691-411-6}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Rikitea}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Mangareva]]
[[Category:Geography of the Gambier Islands]]
[[Category:Populated places in French Polynesia]]