Eiao
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EIAO or E.I.A.O. may refer to: * European Internet Accessibility Observatory, an organization assessing Internet accessibility * European Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy, a transnational organization of orthodox parliamentarians ; See also * Eiao, a formerly populated island in French Polynesia
Eiao is the largest of the extreme northwestern Marquesas Islands. The island is uninhabited, but is administratively part of the commune (municipality) of Nuku-Hiva, itself in the administrative subdivision of the Marquesas Islands. As of 2022, the only settlement on the island is a small shelter on the north coast of Vaithua Bay with a water tap. There are some small artificial structures in the north of the island, most likely for archeological purposes. There is a small shrine of Mother Mary somewhere along a trail to the plateau at the top of the island.
Geography
Eiao is a remnant of a caldera wall in a 5 million-year-old volcano, which measured . The island is a long and wide crescent shape, measuring . It is often considered one of the biggest desert islands on earth. The center of this island is the high Tohuanui plateau, rising on the east side to above sea level, much of which has been devastated by herds of feral sheep and other animals brought here by humans. This plateau is a red desert which covers around 50–60% of the island. The Hanataaitoki Valley is contained in this plateau. High coastal cliffs border the south side of the island. The rest of the island is mainly filled with tropical fauna, including coconut and candlenut trees. There is one good anchorage, found on the western side of the island at Vaituha. Another small bay on the southwest side of the island is Opituha Bay. On the northwest side of the island, a sheltered bay known as Charner Bay is located.
History
Climate
The climate on the island is mainly dry, with little rain throughout the year. Most days are sunny with few clouds. The months of March and April have the most unusual weather.
References
Text derived from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=651244087 under CC BY-SA 4.0; modifications have been made.