Is Tuamotu an archipelago?
Tuamotu Archipelago, French Îles Tuamotu, also called Paumotu, island group of French Polynesia, central South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago comprises 75 atolls, one raised coral atoll (Makatea), and innumerable coral reefs, roughly dispersed northwest-southeast as a double chain for more than 900 miles (1,450 km).
How do you get to the Tuamotu Islands?
Air Tahiti flies about four times a day to Rangiroa, twice a day to Tikehau, and daily to Manihi and Fakarava. Two Air Tahiti passes cover the region but can only be used when staying for a month or longer: the Lagoon Pass and the Bora Bora/Tuamotu Pass. Air Archipels, a charter operator, flies to the Tuamotu.
Is Tuamotu a country?
The Tuamotus are a French overseas collectivity….Tuamotus.
| Native name: Îles Tuamotu (French) / Tuamotus (Tuamotuan) / Paumotus (Tahitian) | |
|---|---|
| Major islands | Rangiroa, Anaa, Fakarava, Hao, Makemo |
| Area | 850 km2 (330 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
| French Republic |
What are the Society Islands?
Taha’a
Raiatea
Society Islands/Islands
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).
What is Society Islands known for?
The Society Islands are a tropical South Sea archipelago of volcanic origin. They represent the most economically important of the five archipelagos of French Polynesia. The highest point is Mount Orohena, which reaches 2,241 meters, located on the island of Tahiti.
Where is Louisiade archipelago?
Papua New Guinea
Louisiade Archipelago, island group of Papua New Guinea, 125 miles (200 km) southeast of the island of New Guinea. Stretching for more than 100 miles (160 km), it occupies 10,000 square miles (26,000 square km) of the southwestern Pacific and has a land area of approximately 690 square miles (1,790 square km).
Who owns the Society Islands?
France
In the 1880s France formally annexed the islands. Today the Catholic Church owns at least 45 religious buildings in the area, all under the ecclesiastical responsibility of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Papeete (Archidiocese of Papeete or Archidioecesis Papeetensis) with headquarters on the island of Tahiti.
How many islands are there in the Tuamotu Archipelago?
Tuamotu Archipelago. Written By: Tuamotu Archipelago, French Îles Tuamotu, also called Paumotu, island group of French Polynesia, central South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago comprises 75 atolls, one raised coral atoll (Makatea), and innumerable coral reefs, roughly dispersed northwest-southeast as a double chain for more than 900 miles (1,450 km).
Is the Gambier Islands part of the Tuamotus Islands?
Although geographically part of the Tuamotus, the Gambier Islands, at the southeastern extreme of the archipelago, are geologically and culturally distinct. In the northwest of the archipelago, the ring-shaped atoll Taiaro provides a rare example of a coral reef with a fully enclosed lagoon.
How old are the rocks on the Tuamotu Islands?
The islands and atolls of the Tuamotu Archipelago are reefs sitting atop summits of mountains that rise from the sea floor. At the northwestern extent of the island chain—including islands shown in this image—rocks date to roughly 65 million years ago. Younger rocks predominate in the southeast and east, dating to roughly 36 million years ago.
Where are the coral reefs in the Tuamotus Islands?
All of the islands of the Tuamotus are coral “low islands”: essentially high sand bars built upon coral reefs. Makatea, southwest of the Palliser Islands, is one of three great phosphate rocks in the Pacific Ocean. (The others are Banaba in Kiribati, and the island nation of Nauru .)