How many atolls are in French Polynesia?
78 atolls make up this group of islands. An atoll is a ring of volcanic and coral land resulting from a volcano landslide. The main atolls are located about 1 hour flight from Tahiti.
What is the name of the largest atoll in French Polynesia?
Rangiroa (or Ra’iroa) is the largest atoll of Tahiti and her Islands and one of the four largest in the world, with more than 240 motu (islets). Rangiroa is worldwide famous for its extraordinary diving opportunities.
Is it illegal to swim in French Polynesia?
Helpful? Yes you can swim, there are no restrictions to that, however its not as great as swimming off Moorea or Bora bora, the water isnt that clear in Tahiti.
What are the 6 Polynesian islands?
The Polynesian Cultural Center is Hawaii’s #1 visitor attraction, has 6 island villages representing the unique island cultures of Hawaii, Fiji, Aotearoa (New Zealand), Samoa, Tahiti, and Tonga.
Is Bora Bora part of France?
Politics and Government. 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. Bora Bora is also a municipality, comprising the island of Bora Bora, and the atoll of Tupai.
Is Tahiti an atoll?
Commonly referred to as The Islands of Tahiti, French Polynesia is a collection of 118 islands and atolls scattered across an impressive nautical surface area the size of Western Europe. Still, these tiny islands—many of which remain uninhabited—make up a total landmass of only 1,600 square miles (4,100 sq. km).
Are atolls inhabited?
Atolls are sparsely populated, low-lying islands whose white, sandy beaches and placid lagoons are ideally suited to the tourism industry. Island nations made of atolls include Maldives, in the Indian Ocean, and Kiribati, in the Pacific.
Can you take alcohol to French Polynesia?
Each person may legally bring the following items into French Polynesia duty free: 200 cigarettes, 200 cigarillos, or 100 cigars; 50 grams of perfume; 500 grams of coffee; 100 grams of tea; 10 rolls of film; and 2 liters of alcohol.
Can you drink at 18 in Bora Bora?
18 years is the legal age to drink (order or buy) alcoholic beverages in all French Polynesia (French regulation).
Is NZ a part of Polynesia?
The largest country in Polynesia is New Zealand. The term Polynésie was first used in 1756 by the French writer Charles de Brosses, who originally applied it to all the islands of the Pacific.
Where is the atoll of Tetiaroa?
Tetiaroa is part of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. This small, secluded atoll is located 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Tahiti and considered an extension of the Arue commune.
What are the 15 islands in French Polynesia?
Bye-bye Bora Bora — 15 other islands in French Polynesia 1 Taha’a. 2 Rangiroa. 3 Fatu Hiva. 4 Moorea. 5 Rurutu. 6 Hiva Oa. 7 Nuku Hiva. 8 Huahine. 9 Manihi. 10 Maupiti.
What happened to the Moruroa Atoll?
Greenpeace states in a 21st-century study that the explosion sucked all the water from the lagoon, “raining dead fish and mollusks down on the atoll”, and that it spread contamination across the Pacific as far as Peru and New Zealand. President Charles de Gaulle himself was present at Moruroa on 10 September 1966…
How many nuclear tests did France have in Mururoa Atoll?
France undertook nuclear weapon tests between 1966 and 1996 at Moruroa and Fangataufa, causing international protests, notably in 1974 and 1995. The number of tests performed has been variously reported as 175 and 181. Ancient Polynesians knew Mururoa Atoll by the ancestral name of Hiti-Tautau-Mai.