Atuona
Administrative centre of the commune of Hiva-Oa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Atuona, located on Atuona Bay on the southern side of Hiva Oa island, French Polynesia, is the administrative centre of the commune (municipality) of Hiva-Oa. Atuona was the capital of all the Marquesas Islands but it has been replaced by Taioha'e (on Nuku Hiva).
Atuona | |
|---|---|
View of Atuona from Baie Tahauku | |
  Location within Marquesas Islands | |
 Location of Atuona | |
| Coordinates: 9°48′11″S 139°2′23″W | |
| Country | France |
| Overseas collectivity | French Polynesia |
| Subdivision | Marquesas Islands |
| Commune | Hiva Oa |
| Population (2022)[1] | 1,993 |
| Time zone | UTC−9:30 |
The peak Temetiu, rising to 1,213 m (3,980 ft) above sea level, towers above the town.
Atuona was the final home of Paul Gauguin, who died there in 1903 and is buried in Calvary Cemetery, which overlooks the town. The Belgian singer Jacques Brel is also buried there. In 2003, construction on the Paul Gauguin Cultural Center was completed in Atuona.
Climate
| Climate data for Atuona (1961–1990) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 30.6 (87.1) |
30.9 (87.6) |
30.9 (87.6) |
30.6 (87.1) |
30.0 (86.0) |
29.0 (84.2) |
28.5 (83.3) |
28.5 (83.3) |
29.1 (84.4) |
29.9 (85.8) |
30.6 (87.1) |
30.8 (87.4) |
30.0 (85.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 22.8 (73.0) |
23.1 (73.6) |
23.5 (74.3) |
23.5 (74.3) |
23.0 (73.4) |
22.7 (72.9) |
22.2 (72.0) |
22.1 (71.8) |
22.1 (71.8) |
22.2 (72.0) |
22.4 (72.3) |
22.7 (72.9) |
22.7 (72.9) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 128.7 (5.07) |
122.2 (4.81) |
147.0 (5.79) |
131.4 (5.17) |
144.1 (5.67) |
178.4 (7.02) |
136.7 (5.38) |
112.6 (4.43) |
68.0 (2.68) |
85.5 (3.37) |
69.9 (2.75) |
97.3 (3.83) |
1,421.8 (55.97) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 249.7 | 223.6 | 226.2 | 218.8 | 219.2 | 193.4 | 202.0 | 217.6 | 223.6 | 241.4 | 245.2 | 244.1 | 2,704.8 |
| Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration[2] | |||||||||||||
