Ua Pu

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ʻUa Pu, ʻUa Pou
Country	France French Polynesia
Archipelago	Marquesas Islands
Region	South Pacific Ocean
Area	40.54 sq.mi. 105 km²
Coastline	- km
Highest elevation	Oave 1404 ft. 1,230 m
Population  - Density	2,200 ppl. (2002) 54.27 ppl./sq.mi. 20.95 ppl./km²

Ua Pou (also known as Ua Pu) is the third largest of the Marquesas Islands, located about 50 km (30 mi.) south of Nuku Hiva, in the northern Marquesas. Until recently, it was the most populous of the islands, because when the other islands were being ravaged by diseases introduced by European explorers and traders, the Catholic priests on Ua Pou finally took to quarantining the remnant of the native population inside their churches whenever visiting ships approached the island, thereby reducing their exposure to external diseases.

The centre of the island is characterized by four high basalt pillars that reach high above the surrounding mountains. The highest of these pillars reaches to 1,232 m (4,042 ft.) above sea level and is the highest elevation in the Marquesas.

The island covers an area of 105 km (41 sq. mi.), and is located just northwest of the small island of Motu ‘Oa. The population in 2002 was 2,013. The largest village is on Haka Hau bay, on the northeast coast.

[edit] History

Ua Pou is the only major island that was unified under a single monarch prior to the arrival of European explorers.

Prior to the island's unification, reportedly about 1585, there is evidence that the tribes of Ua Pou were sometimes united in war with the tribes of Te I'i on Nuku Hiva against those of Tai Pi. Despite the fact that tribes from both the eastern and western halves of Ua Pu were often united in war against each other, however, it appears that such differences among them were not considered when members of tribes from either side of the island sought refuge among the tribes of Te I'i on Nuku Hiva.

Polynesia	Marquesas Islands - French Polynesia
Northern Marquesas: Eiao | Hatutu | Motu Iti | Motu One | Nuku Hiva | Ua Huka | Ua Pu
Southern Marquesas: Fatu Hiva | Fatu Huku | Hiva Oa | Moho Tani | Motu Nao | Tahuata | Terihi
Archipelagoes: Australs | Bass | Gambiers | Marquesas | Societies | Tuamotus