Tahuata
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Commune of Tahuata |
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| Location | |
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| Location of the commune (in red) within the Marquesas Islands | |
| Administration | |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Overseas community | French Polynesia |
| Administrative subdivision | Marquesas Islands |
| Commune centre | Vaitahu |
| Mayor | Teaiki Félix Barsinas |
| Statistics | |
| Elevation | 0 m–1,050 m |
| Land area | 69 km² |
| Population¹ (Aug. 2007 census) |
671 |
| - Density | 9.7/km² (2007 census) |
| Miscellaneous | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 98746/ 98743 |
| 1 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once. | |
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Tahuata is the smallest of the inhabited Marquesas Islands, in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. It is located 4 km (2.5 mi.) to the south of the western end of Hiva Oa, across the Canal du Bordelais, called Ha‘ava in Marquesan.
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[edit] Administration
Administratively, Tahuata forms the commune (municipality) of Tahuata, part of the administrative subdivision of the Marquesas Islands. This commune consists solely of the island of Tahuata itself.
The administrative centre of the commune is the settlement of Vaitahu, on the western side of the island.
[edit] Geography
Tahuata is approx. 69 km² (26.6 sq. mi.) The highest point on the island is Mount Amatea (French: Mont Amatea), rising to an elevation of 1,050 m (3,445 ft.).
[edit] Demographics
The 2007 census population was 671.
[edit] History
Archæological evidence indicates that Tahuata was inhabited by Polynesians as early as 200 CE.
In later pre-European times, the tribes of Tahuata were allied with the tribes from the Nuku province of Hiva Oa, and the island was considered a dependency of that province.
The first European explorers disembarked on Tahuata in 1595, beginning with the Spanish navigator Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira at Vaitahu, followed by Captain James Cook in 1774 and Admiral Dupetit-Thouars in 1842, who signed the treaty annexing the Marquesas Islands to France. Some time in the 19th century a shipload of mentally handicapped "Spanish" Women were taken ashore and, presumably cared for by the Nuns there at the time...... Today, the mix of Polynesian and "Spanish" genes have given a very beautiful face, with a perturbed mentality! One only has to look at the names. Santos, Alvarado, Barsinas and Moreta
[edit] Communications
Because there is insufficient level ground for even a small runway, the island is served by the airport on Hiva Oa. This serves to give the island a feeling of much greater isolation, despite its proximity to Hiva Oa.
[edit] See also
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