French Polynesia is an overseas collectivity of the French Republic in the Pacific Ocean. It is composed of 118 geographically dispersed islands and atolls stretching over an expanse of more than 3,000 kilometers. The capital is Tahiti.
Things to do in French Polynesia
1. Papeete, Tahiti
The capital of French Polynesia, Papeete is the seat of government, the judicial center and the main port. It has a population of 116,305. The city stretches across an area of 10.44 square kilometers and is located at an elevation of 23 feet above sea level. It is bounded by Punaauia to the north and east, Faa’a to the southeast and Pirae to the south. The urban area consists of three districts which include Paea in the northeast, Vaima in the southeast and Epi in central Papeete. The main urban corridors are Avenue de l’Europe and Avenue du Général de Gaulle.
2. The Bora Bora Islands
Bora Bora is the main of the 118 islands and atolls that make up French Polynesia. It is located in the South Pacific Ocean, and it is composed of a main island with a ring of smaller islands around it. The main island is part of the Leeward Islands, which includes Taha’a, Maupiti, Maupihaa, Motu One and two other tiny uninhabited islands. The entire island has been incorporated into a single commune in 1997. The commune consists of 188 islands and atolls including an active volcano called Mount Otemanu which rises to an elevation of 1,142 meters.
3. Raiatea
Raiatea is an island in the Society Islands, which are part of the geographical region of Polynesia in The South Pacific Ocean. The island has a population of around 11,000 and an area of 129 square kilometers. It is located at an elevation of 7 meters above sea level and it is located at 8 degrees north latitude and 178 degrees to 180 degrees east longitude.
4. Fakarava Atoll
The Fakarava Atoll is an atoll which belongs to the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located at a distance of about 478 kilometers from Tahiti and 1,222 kilometers from the capital. The island has a perimeter of 20 kilometers. The Atoll extends over an area of 38.5 square kilometers and it is composed of eight islands including Bora Bora, Muri Beach, Vairaatutu, Te Tao’eva and Te Vaipoto.
5. Moorea
Moorea is a large island which forms part of the Society Islands archipelago in French Polynesia. It has an area of 53 square kilometers and a population of 14,000 people. These people are mainly engaged in commercial activities such as fishing and tourism since there are no industries on the island.
