The geography of French Polynesia

The geography of French Polynesia

Geography and Physical Features

French Polynesia is an overseas collectivity of France situated in the south-central Pacific Ocean, consisting of five archipelagoes spread across a vast oceanic area. The territory includes approximately 130 islands scattered between latitudes 7° and 27° South and longitudes 134° and 155° West, covering a total land area comparable to metropolitan Paris and London combined, yet dispersed across a swath of ocean five times larger than France itself. These islands are all protrusions of parallel submarine ridges trending from northwest to southeast, forming a diverse landscape of high volcanic islands and low coral atolls.

How many islands does French Polynesia have?

1. 200 islands
2. Approximately 130 islands
3. 50 islands
4. 300 islands

Geography and Physical Features

The Society Islands, which include Tahiti and Bora-Bora, are the most populous and visited group, featuring dramatic volcanic mountains that drop abruptly to narrow coastal strips or directly into lagoons. Tahiti, the largest island at 403 square miles, is particularly striking with its silhouette rising 7,352 feet above sea level, while Bora-Bora is renowned for its twin volcanic peaks encircled by brilliant white coral sand beaches and crystal-clear lagoons. Unlike these high islands, the Tuamotu Archipelago consists of about 80 low, flat coral atolls surrounding lagoons, with their size varying greatly from substantial landmasses to mere acres barely rising above the sea.

What type of islands make up the Tuamotu Archipelago?

1. High islands
2. Coral atolls
3. Volcanic mountains
4. Lagoons

Geography and Physical Features

The remaining archipelagoes each possess distinctive geographical characteristics: the Gambier Islands feature four large, high volcanic islands; the Marquesas group contains 14 rugged volcanic islands rising above 4,000 feet without protective barrier reefs; and the Tubuai Islands in the south are relatively low, rounded volcanic formations. This geographical diversity has shaped human settlement patterns, with populations concentrated on coastal plains of high islands or grouped in villages near the reef passes on atolls, while the interior mountains remain largely uninhabited. The islands' isolation and varied topography have created unique ecosystems and influenced everything from climate to human habitation patterns throughout French Polynesia.

How many islands are in the Marquesas group?

1. 10 coral atolls
2. 12 flat islands
3. 8 low islands
4. 14 rugged volcanic islands

Climate

The climate of French Polynesia is tropical—warm and humid year-round, with a distinct warm rainy season from November to April and a relatively cooler dry season from May to October. Despite this general pattern, the dispersal of islands across 20 degrees of latitude creates notable regional variations in weather conditions. Precipitation is abundant throughout most of the territory except in the Marquesas and northern Tuamotus, often falling in violent rainstorms that can deliver up to 120 inches annually in coastal areas, with windward coasts typically receiving more rainfall due to their greater exposure.

Climate

Temperature remains remarkably consistent throughout the year across the islands. In Papeete, Tahiti's capital, the average annual temperature is 79°F, with high averages reaching 91°F in March and low averages dipping to 70°F in August. The Tubuai Islands, situated farther south, experience slightly cooler conditions with low averages reaching 64°F in September. Relative humidity consistently ranges between 80 and 90 percent, creating a perpetually moist atmosphere, while higher elevations remain almost constantly enveloped in heavy cloud formations.

Climate

The territory lies within the trade-wind zone, with dominant winds blowing from the north and northeast, shifting toward the southeast between May and October. Long periods of calm typically occur from April to June, occasionally interrupted by typhoons, particularly during El Niño events when Pacific water temperatures rise abnormally. This climate pattern has shaped the lush vegetation of the high islands, where rainforests thrive in upper valleys, while the limestone soils of atolls support hardier, drought-resistant plants adapted to the more exposed conditions of these low-lying coral formations.