Airport type Public Elevation AMSL 7 ft / 2 m 2,000 6,562 Elevation 2 m | 12/30 2,000 Code GMR | |
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Totegegie Airport is an airport on Totegegie Island (in the Gambier Islands) French Polynesia (IATA: GMR, ICAO: NTGJ). It is 9 km northeast of the village of Rikitea.
Contents
Totegegie's name consists of the combination of two Mangarevan words (the local language, which takes its name from Mangareva, the main island of the archipelago): tote, which means a sandy islet on a reef (the equivalent of motu in Polynesian) and gegie (pronounced gniégnié) which is the name of a small shrub typical of atolls that looks much like a juniper bush without berries.
The airport is found on Totegegie, which is one of Mangareva island's reefs approximately 9 km (5.6 mi) from Rikitea, the island's administrative settlement. It has the only building on the reef. The airport is 1,652 km (1,027 mi) from Tahiti and is classified as a territorial aerodrome. Its only commercial service is to Tahiti's Faaa International Airport on Tuesdays.
Totegegie Airport is crucial in its role as the outside world's link to the more famous Pitcairn Island. One of the only ways a traveler can reach Pitcairn is to fly to Tahiti, then to Totegegie. From there, a 32-hour boat ride will take one to Pitcairn.
The increase in passenger numbers is shown below.
History
Ground transportation
To go to Mangareva and its city Rikitea, travel is by boat.
From Mangareva there are boats going to Pitcairn Island, the main way of getting there.
Passengers
The increase in passenger numbers is shown below.
Wildlife
This shrub, Pemphis acidula, is widespread on Polynesian atolls and is best known as the 'miki miki'.