Geography
The Disappointment Islands (French: Îles du Désappointement) are a small group of coral atolls located in the northeastern part of the Tuamotu Archipelago. The atolls are Tepoto and Napuka. Often included with them is Puka-Puka, 180 miles (300 km) to their southeast. The islands are dry, and not especially conducive to human habitation.
Demographics
The Disappointment Islands are only sparsely populated. The inhabitants are overwhelmingly native Polynesians. According to the 2002 census, the population of the islands is as follows:
- Tepoto: 54
- Napuka: 257
- Puka-Puka: 197
History
The western Disappointment Islands, Tepoto and Napuka, were colonized by voyagers from the neighboring Tuamotus, but Puka-Puka was colonized by settlers from the Marquesas Islands, several hundred miles to the northeast.
The islands were given their name by Ferdinand Magellan, who could not find a water source there from which to replenish his ship's supplies, while en route to the Philippine Islands.
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