Austral Islands

Coordinates: 23°0′S 150°0′W / 23.000°S 150.000°W / -23.000; -150.000

Tuha'a Pae
Native name: Îles Australes

Geography
Location Pacific Ocean
Archipelago Polynesia
Total islands 7
Major islands Tupua'i, Rūrutu, Ra'ivāvae, Rapa Iti
Area 148 km2 (57 sq mi)
Administration
France
Overseas collectivity French Polynesia
Largest settlement Rūrutu (pop. 2,322)
Demographics
Population 6,820[1] (2012)
Pop. density 43 /km2 (111 /sq mi)
Map of the Austral Islands

The Tuha'a Pae, or Austral Islands (French: Îles Australes or Archipel des Australes), are the southernmost group of islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the South Pacific. Geographically, they consist of two separate archipelagos, namely in the northwest the Tupua'i islands (French: Îles Tubuaï) consisting of the Îles Maria, Rimatara, Rūrutu, Tupua'i Island proper and Ra'ivāvae, and in the southeast the Bass Islands (French: Îles basses) composed of the main island of Rapa Iti and the small Marotiri (also known as Bass Rocks or Îlots de Bass). Inhabitants of the islands are known for their pandanus fiber weaving skills.[2] The islands of Maria and Marotiri are not suitable for sustained habitation. Several of the islands have uninhabited islets or rocks off their coastlines. Austral Islands' population is about 6,300 on almost 150 km2 (58 sq mi). The capital of the Austral Islands administrative subdivision is Tupua'i.

Geography

The Tuha'a Pae or Austral Islands (French: Îles Australes or Archipel des Australes) are the southernmost group of islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the South Pacific. Geographically, the Austral Islands consist of two separate archipelagos. From northwest to southeast they are:

The islands of Maria and Marotiri are not suitable for sustained habitation. Several of the islands have uninhabited islets or rocks off their coastlines.

The chain is associated with the Macdonald hotspot. The only active volcano is the Macdonald seamount (40m depth).[3]

In administrative terms, the Austral Islands (including the Bass Islands) constitute an administrative subdivision, the Tuha'a Pae or Austral Islands (subdivision administrative des (Îles) Australes), one of French Polynesia's five administrative subdivisions (subdivision administratives). Geographically, the administrative subdivision of the Austral Islands is identical with the constituency of the Austral Islands (circonscription des Îles Australes), one of French Polynesia's six constituencies (circonscriptions électorales) for the Assembly of French Polynesia.

The capital of the Austral Islands administrative subdivision is Tupua'i.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Institut Statistique de Polynésie Française (ISPF). "Recensement de la population 2012" (in French). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-02-02. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
  2. ↑ "Australs Resorts". Tahiti Travel Planners. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  3. ↑ Gillespie, Rosemary G.; David A. Clague (2009). Encyclopedia of Islands. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. p. 342. ISBN 9780520256491. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
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