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                                             Tikehau, with its 400 inhabitants, is an almost circular atoll which is 26 kms across with the shallow Passe de Tuheiava on its west side.  The atoll is located 300 km 
                                                to the northwest of Tahiti and is about 12 km from Rangiroa.   Tuherahera village and the airstrip share an island in the southwest corner of the atoll.   You arrive at the 
                                                Tikehau airport and are greeted by representatives of the Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort, Jeanne and Hugo.   After a short bus ride, you are taken to the dock and you approach the resort by 
                                                boat. Life on Tikehau centers around the lagoon, the sea life and is also home to many bird colonies.  Passe de Tuheiava is an important center for lagoon fishing and in the lagoon are fish 
                                                parks that supply the markets of Tahiti plus there is a motu on the northeast side of the lagoon that produces copra.   
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