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Named Bowditch Island by
an American expedition in 1841, Fakaofo's 62 islets measure 4 sq km (1.5
sq mi) and its lagoon is 50 sq km (20 sq mi). It's not the biggest of the
three atolls, but it has the highest population, at around 580.
Fakaofo
has three churches, to cater for its Protestant and Catholic inhabitants.
Shady Fale Island is the major settlement, and some families have moved to
adjacent Fenuafala to relieve some of the enormous population pressure.
There's so little land that Fakaofo's domestic pig population is forced to
live on the reef - let's hope they can swim! Fakaofo has a prime example
of a traditional village hall, with the coral slab personifying Tui
Tokelau still standing outside.
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