Raiatea

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Bora Bora, Tahaa, and Raiatea from space
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Bora Bora, Tahaa, and Raiatea from space

Somewhat smaller than Tahiti, Raiatea is the second largest of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. The proper spelling of the name, rarely used though, in the Tahitian language is Ra’iatea, meaning: bright sky. The chief town on Raiatea is Uturoa, administrative center for the Leeward Islands (French Îles sous le Vent). The islands of Raiatea and Tahaa are both enclosed by the same coral reef, and may once have been a single island.

Administratively speaking, the island of Raiatea is divided in three communes (municipalities):

These three communes are inside the administrative subdivision of the Leeward Islands.