Society Islands

Society Islands
Native name: Îles de la Société

Flag
Geography
Location Pacific Ocean
Archipelago Society Islands
Major islands Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea, Bora Bora, Huahine
Area 1,590 km2 (614 sq mi)
Highest elevation 2,241 m (7,352 ft)
Highest point Mont Orohena
Country
France
Overseas collectivity French Polynesia
Largest city Papeete (pop. 131,695 urban)
Demographics
Population 227,807 [1] (as of Aug. 2007 census)
Density 143 /km2 (370 /sq mi)

The Society Islands (French: Îles de la Société or officially Archipel de la Société) are a group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean. They are politically part of French Polynesia. The archipelago is generally believed to have been named by Captain James Cook in honor of the Royal Society, the sponsor of the first British scientific survey of the islands; however, Cook states in his journal that he called the islands Society "as they lay contiguous to one another".[2]

The islands are divided, both geographically and administratively into two groups:

The islands became a French protectorate in 1843 and a colony in 1880. They have a population of 227,807 inhabitants (as of August 2007 census).[1] They cover a land area of 1,590 square kilometres (610 sq mi).

Transport

Each of the Society Islands has a small airport but Tahiti has the Faaa International Airport.

References

  1. ^ a b (French) Institut Statistique de Polynésie Française (ISPF). "Recensement de la population 2007" (PDF). Archived from the original on 2007-12-03. http://web.archive.org/web/20071203110626/http://www.ispf.pf/(k1aciwf4z0fyap45ghzhgm55)/stat/demo/rp2007/pdfs/poplegales2007.pdf. Retrieved 2007-12-02. 
  2. ^ Horwitz, Tony. Oct. 2003, Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before, Bloomsbury, ISBN 0-7475-6455-8

External links


Society Islands of French Polynesia
Archipelagos of French Polynesia:  Australs • Gambiers • Marquesas • Societies • Tuamotus
Polynesian triangle
Polynesian outliers
Polynesian-influenced