|RConstitution:|N Republic. Overseas territory of the French Community.
|RNature and climate:|N Consists of the following archipelagos:
1. The Windward Islands (Iles du Vent), comprising the islands Tahiti, Moorea, Maio (Tubuai Manu), Mehetia and Tetiaoro. Capital Papeete is on Tahiti.
2. The Leeward Island (Iles sous le Vent) comprising the vulcanic islands of Raiatéa, Tahaa, Huahine, Bora-Bora and Maupiti and four small atolls. Chief town is Uturoa on Raiatéa.
The Windward islands and The Leeward Islands are together called the Society Archipelago (Archipel de la Société).
3. The Tuamotu Archipelago consists of two parallel ranges of 78 atolls north and east of the Society Archipelago. Rangiroa, Hao and Turéia are the most populous atolls. Mururoa and Faujataufa in the southeast have been used by France for nuclear tests since 1966.
The Tuamotu administrative region also comprises the Gambler islands further eastwards.
4. The Austral or Tbuai Islands comprises a 1300 km long chain of vulcanic islands and reefs. Biggest islands are Rimatara, Rurutu, Tubuai, Raivaevae and Rapa-Iti.
5. Marguesas Islands, north of the Tuamotu islands, comprises the islands of Nukuhiva, Uapu, Uahuka, Hivaoa, Tahuata and Fatuhiva along with 4 smaller and uninhabited islands.
|RPeople:|N Most of the population is Polynesian.
|REconomy:|N Most important industries are agriculture, pearl fishing and tourism.
Chief exports are coconut oil and cultivated pearls.
Tourism earn almost half as much as the visible exports. Of the tourists 50% come from the USA.
|RHistory:|N Visited by James Cook in 1769 and captain Bligh in the Bounty 1788-1789. A French protectorate since 1843. Annexed to France 1880 to 1882 and given the status of Overseas Territory within the French community in 1958.
The beauty of the islands have impressed and inspired many visitors, among them Herman Melvill, Paul Gaugin and Charles Darwin.
