French Polynesia
From Imakoopedia
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| Quick Facts | |
| Capital | Papeete |
| Government | NA |
| Currency | Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF); note - may adopt the euro in 2003 |
| Area | total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls) water: 507 sq km land: 3,660 sq km |
| Population | 257,847 (July 2002 est.) |
| Language | French (official), Tahitian (official) |
| Religion | Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 10%, no religion 6% |
French Polynesia (Polynesie Francaise) is an archipelago of islands that is an overseas dependent territory of France in the South Pacific Ocean about one-half of the way from South America to Australia.
It includes five archipelagoes (4 volcanic, 1 coral); Makatea in French Polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Nauru
| Table of contents |
Regions
Map of French Polynesia
There are 5 archipelagic regions:
- Archipel des Marquises
- Archipel des Tuamotu
- Archipel des Tubuai
- Iles du Vent
- Iles Sous-le-Vent
Cities
Other destinations
- Clipperton Island is administered by France from French Polynesia
- Bora Bora is one of the more beautiful islands in the Society group. A popular destination but very pricey.
Understand
Climate
Tropical, but moderate. Natural hazards : occasional cyclonic storms in January.
Terrain
Mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs.
- Highest point
- Mont Orohena 2,241 m
History
The Polynesians inhabited these islands for several hundred years before their discovery by western explorers.
The British discovered Tahiti in the mid 1760's and Captain Cook visited there in 1769 to observe the Transit of Venus before sailing on to the south and west in search of the fabled Terra Australus Incognita with the assistance of a Polynesian navigator.
The French annexed various Polynesian island groups during the 19th century.
- Dependency status
- overseas territory of France since 1946
During the 1960's and 1970's, the French conducted atmospheric in the islands, primarily at Mururoa atoll. Testing later moved underground after international protests from other Pacific countries, including a flotilla of yachts and a warship from New Zealand to monitor tests in 1974. Testing continued into the early 1990's, despite attempts to disrupt them by enviromental activists. In September 1995, France stirred up widespread protests by resuming nuclear testing on the Mururoa atoll after a three-year moratorium. The tests were suspended in January 1996.
In recent years the islanders have been working towards autonomy and economic independence from France. However, the process is a gradual one and is expected to take a decade or two to occur.
Get in
By plane
By boat
Get around
Talk
The official languages are French and Tahitian.
Buy
Eat
Drink
Sleep
Learn
Work
Stay safe
Stay healthy
Respect
Contact
External links
- Ministry of Tourism of French Polynesia (http://www.tourisme.gov.pf/)
- Official Tahiti Tourism site (http://www.tahiti-tourisme.com/)
- Map of Tahiti (http://www.mapsouthpacific.com/tahiti/index.html)
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