French Polynesia
Spread over a vast area about the size of Europe, the widely scattered (118 islands and atolls) of French Polynesia - part of an overseas territory of France - are divided into 5 groups: the Austral, Gambier, Marquesas, Society and Tuamotu archipelagos. Prior to European settlement, the island groups of French Polynesia were inhabited by Polynesians, and organized into loose chieftainships. Europeans began to arrive in the early 16th century after Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, sighted Puka-Puka in 1521, and Dutch and British explorers followed soon thereafter. In 1889, the archipelago was united under a French protectorate, and by 1946 the status had changed to an overseas territory. French Polynesia became a full overseas collectivity of France in 2003, and now retains a great degree of autonomy. These days, the ancient subsistence economy of the larger islands has been replaced by the modern economics of tourism revenues, military employment, pearl farming, commercial fishing and a growing selection of small manufacturing jobs.
Tikehau Island
a graceful oval crown of white and pink-sand beaches, can only be described as a picture postcard. Considered to be one of the most beautiful atolls in Polynesia, the fragrance of the air is matched only by the abundance of life in the bright-blue water. The friendly people, their homes awash with gardens, invite you to share and explore their world beyond imagination. In Tikehau, fish seem to outnumber people one-billion-to one. In fact the density of the fish in the lagoon is so high that Jacques Cousteau's research group declared it to contained the highest concentration of fish among any other Tuamotu atolls. Fishing is among the primary industries here for the 400 residents. Families share fish parks - underwater fenced areas - where they trap parrotfish and other lagoon species as a primary source of food and income. Families also ship fish by air to Papeete for sale in the local markets. Visitors enjoy endless hours of exploring the perfection of the lagoon through snorkeling, diving, and boating and exploring the village of Tuherahera. source: www.tahiti-tourisme.com
Spread over a vast area about the size of Europe, the widely scattered (118 islands and atolls) of French Polynesia - part of an overseas territory of France - are divided into 5 groups: the Austral, Gambier, Marquesas, Society and Tuamotu archipelagos. Prior to European settlement, the island groups of French Polynesia were inhabited by Polynesians, and organized into loose chieftainships. Europeans began to arrive in the early 16th century after Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, sighted Puka-Puka in 1521, and Dutch and British explorers followed soon thereafter. In 1889, the archipelago was united under a French protectorate, and by 1946 the status had changed to an overseas territory. French Polynesia became a full overseas collectivity of France in 2003, and now retains a great degree of autonomy. These days, the ancient subsistence economy of the larger islands has been replaced by the modern economics of tourism revenues, military employment, pearl farming, commercial fishing and a growing selection of small manufacturing jobs.
- Name: French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France, originally claimed in 1843
- Capital City: Papeete, Tahiti
- Population: 268,270 (2012 census)
- Ethnicity: Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4%
- Language: French (official) 61.1%, Polynesian (official) 31.4%, Asian languages 1.2%, other 0.3%, unspecified 6%
Tikehau Island
a graceful oval crown of white and pink-sand beaches, can only be described as a picture postcard. Considered to be one of the most beautiful atolls in Polynesia, the fragrance of the air is matched only by the abundance of life in the bright-blue water. The friendly people, their homes awash with gardens, invite you to share and explore their world beyond imagination. In Tikehau, fish seem to outnumber people one-billion-to one. In fact the density of the fish in the lagoon is so high that Jacques Cousteau's research group declared it to contained the highest concentration of fish among any other Tuamotu atolls. Fishing is among the primary industries here for the 400 residents. Families share fish parks - underwater fenced areas - where they trap parrotfish and other lagoon species as a primary source of food and income. Families also ship fish by air to Papeete for sale in the local markets. Visitors enjoy endless hours of exploring the perfection of the lagoon through snorkeling, diving, and boating and exploring the village of Tuherahera. source: www.tahiti-tourisme.com