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Windward Islands (Society Islands)

Coordinates: 17°32′S 149°50′W / 17.533°S 149.833°W / -17.533; -149.833
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the eastern islands of French Polynesia. For the Caribbean island group within the Lesser Antilles, see Windward Islands. For the main islands of Hawaii, see Hawaiian Windward Islands.
Windward Islands
Native name:
Îles du Vent
Mo'orea
Geography
LocationPacific Ocean
Coordinates17°32′S 149°50′W / 17.533°S 149.833°W / -17.533; -149.833
ArchipelagoSociety Islands
Major islandsTahiti, Moorea, Tetiaroa
Area1,195 km2 (461 sq mi)
Highest elevation2,241 m (7352 ft)
Highest pointMont Orohena
Administration
France
Overseas collectivityFrench Polynesia
Largest settlementPapeete (capital) (pop. 131,695 urban)
Demographics
Population194,623[1] (Aug. 2007 census)
Pop. density163/km2 (422/sq mi)

The Windward Islands (French: Îles du Vent [il dy vɑ̃]) are the eastern group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the southern Pacific Ocean. These islands were also previously named the Georgian Islands in honour of King George III of the United Kingdom.[2][3]

History

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Polynesians settled on the Windward Islands sometime from 800 to 1000 AD. In 1880, France annexed the Windward Islands, being a part of Établissements français de l'Océanie [fr].

Geography

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The archipelago comprises an administrative division (French: subdivision administrative) of French Polynesia, and includes the following islands:

The capital of the administrative district is Papeete on the island of Tahiti. Tahiti, Moorea, and Mehetia are volcanic islands. Tetiaroa and Maiao are coral atolls.

Culture

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French and Tahitian[4] are co-official languages throughout French Polynesia.[5]

Administrative

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The Windward Islands form the administrative subdivision of the Windward Islands (subdivision administrative des Îles du Vent), one of French Polynesia's five administrative subdivisions.[6] The administrative subdivision of the Windward Islands geographically co-extensive with the electoral district of the Windward Islands (circonscription des Îles du Vent), one of French Polynesia's 6 electoral districts (circonscriptions électorales) for the Assembly of French Polynesia (see also Politics of French Polynesia).

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Institut Statistique de Polynésie Française (ISPF). "Recensement de la population 2007" (PDF) (in French). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-12-03. Retrieved 2007-12-02.
  2. ^ "CENTRAL POLYNESIA. No. 14. A GAZETTEER OF CENTRAL POLYNESIA - (CONTINUED)". Sydney Morning Herald. 8 June 1857. p. 8. Retrieved 30 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ George French Angas (1866). Polynesia; A popular description of the physical features, inhabitants, natural history, and productions of the islands of the Pacific. With an account of their discovery, and the progress of civilisation and christianity amongst them. London: Society For Promoting Christian Knowledge. p. 281 – via NZETC.
  4. ^ a b "Te Reo Tahiti". University of Hawaiʻi. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  5. ^ "30 Useful Tahitian Words and Phrases". Entire Travel Group. 1 November 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  6. ^ "French Polynesia Subdivisions". www.statoids.com. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
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