Arutua is an atoll in the northwest part of the Tuamotu Archipelago. It is located 15°10’ south latitude and 146°49’20” west longitude, which is 40 kilometers (24.8 miles) southeast of Rangiroa. Arutua is almost circular in shape with a diameter of 29 kilometers (18 miles). There is one pass through the coral reef for small boats located at the entrance to Rautini, the main village. The 57 groups of exposed land spread around the atoll make up 1,500 hectares (3,706 acres). The huge lagoon covers an area of 52,000 hectares (128,490 acres), but has only one motu, or islet. The lagoon is sprinkled with fish beds and Tahiti cultured pearl farms. Arutua’s first European visitor was Roggeveen in 1722. The 1996 census found 520 people living on the atoll, most of them in the village of Rautini. That village was destroyed by cyclones in 1983 and has since been completely rebuilt. The atoll produces copra and is the home of several Tahiti cultured pearl and mother-of-pearl farms. A 750-meter (2,460-ft.) airstrip was built along with an aerodrome on a motu that is about an hour-long boat trip to Rautini. Arutua is the home of a few of the best musicians from the outer islands. The people of the atoll continue to practice the ancient Paumotu customs. Their songs tell of ancient gods and heroes, the spirits of sharks and fish, the destructive cyclones, shipwrecked persons, ships that have run up on the coral reef, “vahines” and, of course, love.