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Fun facts about Tongatapu

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Tonga ESA363260
island

Tongatapu is built of coral limestone and has thick fertile soil from volcanic ash.

Tongatapu
Tonga
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island

Tongatapu

Tonga

Area
260 km²
Location
Tonga
55th largest island in the world

Tongatapu is the main island of Tonga and the site of its capital, Nukuʻalofa. Approximately 260 square kilometres in size, it is located in Tonga's southern island group, to which it gives its name and it is the country's most populous island, with 74,611 residents (2016) or roughly 70.5% of the total population.

From the “Geography” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: European Space Agency · CC BY-SA 3.0 igo

Fact 1 permalink
Tonga ESA363260
island

The almost completely closed Fanga'uta and Fangakakau Lagoons are important breeding grounds for birds and fish.

Tongatapu
Tonga
Tap to learn more
island

Tongatapu

Tonga

Area
260 km²
Location
Tonga
55th largest island in the world

Tongatapu is the main island of Tonga and the site of its capital, Nukuʻalofa. Approximately 260 square kilometres in size, it is located in Tonga's southern island group, to which it gives its name and it is the country's most populous island, with 74,611 residents (2016) or roughly 70.5% of the total population.

From the “Geography” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: European Space Agency · CC BY-SA 3.0 igo

Fact 2 permalink
Tonga ESA363260
island

Tongatapu has one of the highest concentrations of archaeological remains in the Pacific.

Tongatapu
Tonga
Tap to learn more
island

Tongatapu

Tonga

Area
260 km²
Location
Tonga
55th largest island in the world

Tongatapu is the main island of Tonga and the site of its capital, Nukuʻalofa. Approximately 260 square kilometres in size, it is located in Tonga's southern island group, to which it gives its name and it is the country's most populous island, with 74,611 residents (2016) or roughly 70.5% of the total population.

From the “History” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: European Space Agency · CC BY-SA 3.0 igo

Fact 3 permalink
Tonga ESA363260
island

Abel Tasman first sighted Tongatapu on 20 January 1643 and named it 't’ Eijlandt Amsterdam' due to its abundance of supplies.

Tongatapu
Tonga
Tap to learn more
island

Tongatapu

Tonga

Area
260 km²
Location
Tonga
55th largest island in the world

Tongatapu is the main island of Tonga and the site of its capital, Nukuʻalofa. Approximately 260 square kilometres in size, it is located in Tonga's southern island group, to which it gives its name and it is the country's most populous island, with 74,611 residents (2016) or roughly 70.5% of the total population.

From the “History” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: European Space Agency · CC BY-SA 3.0 igo

Fact 4 permalink
Tonga ESA363260
island

Nukuleka is possibly the site of the first Lapita settlement in Tonga.

Tongatapu
Tonga
Tap to learn more
island

Tongatapu

Tonga

Area
260 km²
Location
Tonga
55th largest island in the world

Tongatapu is the main island of Tonga and the site of its capital, Nukuʻalofa. Approximately 260 square kilometres in size, it is located in Tonga's southern island group, to which it gives its name and it is the country's most populous island, with 74,611 residents (2016) or roughly 70.5% of the total population.

From the “Main sites” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: European Space Agency · CC BY-SA 3.0 igo

Fact 5 permalink