Society Islands

From Open Encyclopedia

The Society Islands (French: Îles de la Société or offically Archipel de la Société) are a group of islands in the south Pacific, administratively part of French Polynesia.

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

Windward Islands (Îles du Vent) (listed from east to west)
Leeward Islands (Îles Sous-le-Vent)
- Huahine which at high tide is divided into two islands, Huahine Nui to the north and Huahine Iti to the south
- Bora Bora
- Raiatea and Tahaa which are both enclosed by the same coral reef
- Maupiti
- Tupai
- Mopelia
- Scilly
- Bellinghausen/Motu One

The islands became a French protectorate in 1843 and a colony in 1880. They have a population of 214,445 inhabitants (as of 2002 census). They cover an area of 1,598 km² (617 sq. miles).

[edit]