Travel destination French Polynesia, five tropical archipelagoes in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean, about 6,000 km east of Brisbane, Australia and 7,700 km west of Lima, Peru . The group of 118 islands and atolls are geographically scattered over an area of more than 4,500 sq. km.
What is French Polynesia called now?
The islands were first settled by migrating Polynesians as early as 500BC. They were later discovered by European explorers during the 16th century and eventually colonized by France. Now officially known as French Polynesia , Tahiti is an autonomous overseas country of the French Republic.
What country owns the French Polynesia?
French Polynesia is a sprawling possession of France in the Pacific Ocean, made up of 118 volcanic and coral islands and atolls, including Tahiti.
Which countries make up French Polynesia?
- the Society Islands archipelago, comprising the Windward Islands and the Leeward Islands.
- the Tuamotu Archipelago.
- the Gambier Islands.
- the Marquesas Islands.
- the Austral Islands.
What country is Polynesia?
The six countries in Polynesia are New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Samoa . New Zealand is the largest of the Polynesian countries in terms of both population and area. New Zealand is home to over 4.9 million people and spans over 103,483 square miles (268,021 square kilometers).
Is French Polynesia and Tahiti the same place?
Tahiti is the economic, cultural, and political centre of French Polynesia , an overseas collectivity and an overseas country of the French Republic. The capital of French Polynesia, Papeete, is located on the northwest coast of Tahiti.
Is Hawaii part of Polynesia?
Modern Polynesia comprises more than 1,000 islands scattered throughout the Central and South Pacific. Major island groups include Tonga, Samoa, the Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Hawaii , among others.
Is French Polynesia owned by France?
French Polynesia is a French overseas territory with a high level of autonomy under the terms of the 2004 Organic Law (2004-192). It comprises five archipelagos (Society, Tuamotu, Marquesas, Gambier and Australs). French Polynesia is spread over more than 5.3 million square kilometres, approximately the size of Europe.
Where did the Polynesians come from?
The direct ancestors of the Polynesians were the Neolithic Lapita culture, which emerged in Island Melanesia and Micronesia at around 1500 BC from a convergence of migration waves of Austronesians originating from both Island Southeast Asia to the west and an earlier Austronesian migration to Micronesia to the north.
Why is Tahiti called French Polynesia?
The Pomare Dynasty ruled Tahiti until 1880 when King Pomare V was persuaded to cede Tahiti and most of its dependencies to France. By 1958, all The Islands of Tahiti were reconstituted as an French Overseas Territory and renamed French Polynesia.
Why is French spoken in Tahiti?
All Tahitians are French citizens and many of the islands’ people, especially in Tahiti’s capital of Pape’ete, were born in France . French is the official language and the local currency is the French Pacific Franc.
Do I need visa for French Polynesia?
U.S. citizens do not need a visa if entering on a regular tourist passport and staying no more than 90 days every six months . If the purpose of the trip is not tourism (work, scientific research, etc.), then you may be required to obtain a visa before arrival in French Polynesia.
Is Fiji part of French Polynesia?
Fiji is a country in the South Pacific comprised of more than 300 islands, with Viti Levu and Vanua Levu the most visited. Bora Bora meanwhile is a small South Pacific island, northwest of Tahiti, and technically considered to be part of French Polynesia .
Is Bora Bora in France?
The atoll is a part of France since the 19th century, its island capital is Vaitape. Tupai Atoll, nearby and uninhabited, is an administrative dependency of Bora Bora.
Does Bora Bora speak French?
The main languages in Bora Bora are French and Tahitian , but you’ll find that many people also speak English, especially resort employees.
Is Australia part of Polynesia?
Oceania has traditionally been divided into four parts: Australasia (Australia and New Zealand), Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia .
Is Philippines part of Polynesia?
No, the Philippines is not a Polynesian island , but is rather an archipelago in Southeast Asia. The Filipinos are of Austronesian ancestry, like the...
Is Hawaiian and Polynesian the same?
Hawaii is the northernmost island group in Polynesia and can be rightfully be referred to as a Polynesian . It includes almost the entire of volcanic Hawaiian Archipelago which is made of several islands spread over 1,500 miles in the central Pacific Ocean.
Are Bora Bora and Tahiti the same?
Are Tahiti and Bora Bora the same? Well, not exactly . They both belong to one group of islands, which makes them very similar in many ways. Whereas Bora Bora is more of an intimate “high end” location, Tahiti is the most urbanized island in French Polynesia.
What is French Polynesia known for?
French Polynesia Is Known for Its Stunning Beaches and Resorts — but a Younger Generation Is Working to Highlight Its Rich Traditions.
What is the capital city of French Polynesia?
PapeeteWhy is Fiji not part of Polynesia?
As it did so, tensions between the Melanesian and Polynesian people grew and, ultimately, a significant number of the Lapita people chose, or were coerced, to leave Fiji and settle in locations further east , such as Tonga, Samoa and other islands which are today collectively known as Polynesia.
Are Polynesians from Africa?
So, while the Polynesian mtDNA haplotypes belonging to the B4a1a1 lineages can ultimately be traced back to Southeast Asia, Polynesian origins lie in both Asia and Near Oceania .
What races are considered Polynesian?
What ethnicity is considered Polynesian? Polynesians include the Māori (New Zealand), Native Hawaiians (Hawaii), Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Samoans (Samoa and American Samoa), Tahitians (Tahiti), Tokelauans (Tokelau), Niueans (Niue), Cook Islands Māori (Cook Islands) and Tongans (Tonga).
What country is Bora Bora in?
Bora-Bora, volcanic island, Îles Sous le Vent (Leeward Islands), in the Society Islands of French Polynesia . It lies in the central South Pacific Ocean, about 165 miles (265 km) northwest of Tahiti.
