Motu One
Encyclopedia
Motu One is the name of a small sandbank with no vegetation located on the western edge of a coral
reef
. The reef is approximately 5 km (3 mi.) in diameter and the islet or islets are less than a hectare
in surface, rising only a few feet above sea level and changing shape regularly owing to the action of the currents.
At approximately 7.85°S 140.38°W, Motu One is the northernmost of the Marquesas Islands
, located about 30 km (18 mi.) northeast of Eïao
and 15 km (9 mi.) northeast of Hatutu
. It is also the only island in the group that is not made of exposed volcanic material, being a calcareous coral reef on a volcanic plug
.
Motu One is administratively part of the commune
(municipality) of Nuku-Hiva
, itself in the administrative subdivision of the Marquesas.
Although Motu One was reportedly visited by Marquesans, primarily on egg
-collecting missions, there is no archaeological
evidence that they were ever inhabited. The first Western
ers to sight the islet were on the 1813-1814 voyage of the American
commander Commodore David Porter
, who named it Lincoln Island. Subsequent explorers also called it Sand Island.
s nest on Motu One. There is a large stand of Porolithon
(Hydrolithon) that is unique in French Polynesia.
There is as well as a wide variety of pelagic birds nesting in the islets; a subspecies of the Marquesan Reed-warbler
, Acrocephalus mendanae consobrina (Murphy & Mathews, 1928), is found on Motu One.
Since 1992, the whole reef and island ecosystem
have been protected
as the Motu One Reserve
.
Coral
Corals are marine animals in class Anthozoa of phylum Cnidaria typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual "polyps". The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton.A coral "head" is a colony of...
reef
Reef
In nautical terminology, a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water ....
. The reef is approximately 5 km (3 mi.) in diameter and the islet or islets are less than a hectare
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
in surface, rising only a few feet above sea level and changing shape regularly owing to the action of the currents.
At approximately 7.85°S 140.38°W, Motu One is the northernmost of the Marquesas Islands
Marquesas Islands
The Marquesas Islands enana and Te Fenua `Enata , both meaning "The Land of Men") are a group of volcanic islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the southern Pacific Ocean. The Marquesas are located at 9° 00S, 139° 30W...
, located about 30 km (18 mi.) northeast of Eïao
Eiao
Eiao is the largest of the extreme northwestern Marquesas Islands. The island was discovered in 1791 by the American navigator Joseph Ingraham, who named it Knox Island in honor of the then-current United States Secretary of War, Henry Knox...
and 15 km (9 mi.) northeast of Hatutu
Hatutu
Hatutu is a small island approximately 3 km northeast of Eiao in the northern Marquesas Islands....
. It is also the only island in the group that is not made of exposed volcanic material, being a calcareous coral reef on a volcanic plug
Volcanic plug
A volcanic plug, also called a volcanic neck or lava neck, is a volcanic landform created when magma hardens within a vent on an active volcano. When forming, a plug can cause an extreme build-up of pressure if volatile-charged magma is trapped beneath it, and this can sometimes lead to an...
.
Motu One is administratively part of the commune
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
(municipality) of Nuku-Hiva
Nuku-Hiva
Nuku-Hiva is a commune of French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. The commune is in the administrative subdivision of the Marquesas Islands....
, itself in the administrative subdivision of the Marquesas.
Although Motu One was reportedly visited by Marquesans, primarily on egg
Egg (biology)
An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...
-collecting missions, there is no archaeological
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
evidence that they were ever inhabited. The first Western
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
ers to sight the islet were on the 1813-1814 voyage of the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
commander Commodore David Porter
David Porter (naval officer)
David Porter was an officer in the United States Navy in a rank of commodore and later the commander-in-chief of the Mexican Navy.-Life:...
, who named it Lincoln Island. Subsequent explorers also called it Sand Island.
Ecology
Green sea turtleGreen Sea Turtle
The Green sea turtle or green turtle is a large sea turtle of the family Cheloniidae. It is the only species in the genus Chelonia. Its range extends throughout tropical and subtropical seas around the world, with two distinct populations in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans...
s nest on Motu One. There is a large stand of Porolithon
Porolithon
Porolithon is a genus of red alga comprising 15 species. The Porolithon are the primary reef building algae. When coral reefs reach sea level, the corals break under the high energy impact of the waves, while the coralline red algae, primarily Porolithon, continuing building and cementing the reef...
(Hydrolithon) that is unique in French Polynesia.
There is as well as a wide variety of pelagic birds nesting in the islets; a subspecies of the Marquesan Reed-warbler
Marquesan Reed-warbler
The Marquesan Reed-warbler is a species of Old World warbler in the Acrocephalidae family.It is found only in French Polynesia.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 10 July 2007....
, Acrocephalus mendanae consobrina (Murphy & Mathews, 1928), is found on Motu One.
Since 1992, the whole reef and island ecosystem
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
have been protected
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
as the Motu One Reserve
Motu One Reserve
The Motu One Reserve is a nature reserve encompassing the whole of the island and reef system of Motu One in the northern Marquesas Islands. The reserve was declared in 1992, and is the site of a large seabird rookery as well as a nesting ground for sea turtles.-See also:*French...
.