Rurutu

Rurutu

Geography

Rurutu is the northernmost island in the Austral archipelago of French Polynesia. The island is surrounded by a fringing coral reef which as a whole is very close to the shore. The island is about 10 km long and 3 km wide. The climate is temperate and dry. The island is famous for its remarkable limestone caves and humpback whale watching.

Location: 22°28′30″S 151°20′30″W

Area: 32 km² /12.35 sq mi

Highest point: 385 m /1,263 ft (Manureva)

Population: 2404 (in 2016)

Main town: Moerai (the biggest village on the island), the other villages are Avera, Hauti, Narui and Naairoa.

Map of Rurutu

Rurutu

History

The first people (Polynesians) arrived on Rurutu between 10^th and 13^th century.

1769 – James Cook discovered Rurutu Island for Europe.

1821 – The missionaries from the Missionary Society of London arrived on the Island.

1852 – 1889 – The Kingdom of Rurutu existed. 

1900 – Rurutu was officially annexed by France.

1970 – Cyclone Emma devastated the villages on Rurutu.

1975 – The airport was opened.

Rurutu

Rurutu

Rurutu

Rurutu

Rurutu

Rurutu

Sources

South Pacific Handbook, 6^th edition, David Stanley

Pacific Islands Volume II Eastern Pacific Naval Intelligence Division 1943

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rurutu

http://www.traveller.com.au/travel-swim-with-whales-off-rurutu--a-french-polynesian-island-with-a-difference-gnvpa5

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Rurutu

https://mapio.net/a/114566948/

Tubuai

Tubuai

Geography

Tubuai is an island that is part of the Austral Islands in French Polynesia. Tubuai is of volcanic origin. The island is ringed by a lagoon (the largest lagoon of the Austral Islands) formed by an encircling coral reef. There are eight small islets (motus) around the main island:

Motu One (îlot de sable)	North, sandy.
Motu Rautaro	East, wooded.
Motu Toena	East, wooded.
Motu Roa (Motu Tāpapatava'e)	East, wooded.
Motu Mitihā (Motiha'a)	East, wooded.
Motu 'Ōfa'i (îlot caillou)	Inside the barrier reef, composed of basalt.
'Iri'iriroa	It is often submerged.
Îlot plat	It is often submerged.

The climate is rather temperate although it can be quite tropical for a large part of the year. The lowest temperature measured on the island was 9.2 °C (48.6 °F) on 31 August 1951. The highest was 32.7 °C (90.9 °F) on 25 March 1980. The lagoon waters typically reach 26 °C (79 °F) in summer but only drop a few degrees in winter.

A considerable portion of the island is swampy, the two largest swamp areas, known as Motavahi and Mihiura, being on the north-west and south-west sides respectively. Each of these swamps has at least one stream draining into it from the mountainous area to the east.

Ather name: Tupua'i

Location: 23°23′S 149°27′W. The island is located 195 km from Ra'ivāvae, 210 km from Rurutu, 700 km from Rapa Iti and 640 km south of Tahiti.

Area: 45 km² /17 sq mi (land area) 

Highest point: 422 m/1,385 ft (Mt Taita'a)

Population: 2294 (in 2016)

Main town: Tupua'i

Map of Tubuai

Tubuai

History

The island has been inhabited for more than 2000 years.

1777 – The island was discovered for Europe by James Cook.

1789 - The mutineers of the HMS Bounty tried to settle on the island. After three months of bloody conflict with the natives, however, they returned to Tahiti.

In the early 1820s, missionaries came to the island from Tahiti. The population of Tubuai that was estimated by the mutineer Morrison to be 3000 was reduced to no more than 300 people in the early 1820s. The reduction of the population was caused by diseases that had been brought by Europeans.

1881 – Tubuai was annexed by France.

Tubuai, view from Motu 'Ōfa'i

Tubuai

Tubuai

Tubuai

Tubuai, view from Motu Mitihā

Motu 'Ōfa'i

Motu Mitihā

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tubuai

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Tubuai

Pacific Islands Volume II Eastern Pacific Naval Intelligence Division 1943

Raivavae

Raivavae

Geography

Raivavae is an island that is part of the Austral Islands in French Polynesia. The island is completely surrounded by a barrier reef, on which are about thirty wooded islets (motu). The biggest islets on the barrier reef are Mano, Haha, Vaiamanu, Araoo, and Haamu. There is also a small island Hotuatua near the main island’s coast. There are four villages on the island:  Anatonu, Rairua, Mahanatoa and Vaiuru.

Other names: Vavitu, Vavitao.

Location: 23°52′09″S 147°39′49″W.

Area: 16 km² /6.17 sq mi 

Highest point: 437 metres /1,434 ft (Mount Hiro)  

Population: 940 (in 2012)

Map of Raivavae Island

Raivavae Island

History

The first people came on the island about 1000 AD, probably from the Cook Islands or the Tuamotu Archipelago. The island is noted for its archaeological interest, particularly for its large stone statues. Moreover, small forts were discovered on Raivavae perched among the summits, similar to those found on Rapa, a neighbouring island.

5 February 1775 – Spanish explorer Thomas Gayangos discovered the island for Europe.  The Spaniards named it Santa Rosa. The inhabitants said the name of their island was Oraibaba.

In the 1820s - the inhabitants converted to Christianity.

28 June 1880 – Raivavae was annexed by France.

Raivavae Island

Raivavae Island

Raivavae Island

Raivavae Island

Raivavae Island

Raivavae Island

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raivavae

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Raivavae

https://welcome-tahiti.com/en/raivavae-the-polynesian-ideal/?v=9b7d173b068d

Pacific Islands Volume II Eastern Pacific Naval Intelligence Division 1943

Flag of the Austral Islands

Flag of the Austral Islands

Austral Islands (Îles Australes) are the southernmost group of islands in French Polynesia in the South Pacific Ocean. There are 7 islands in the group (two of them are uninhabited). Total are of those islands is 148 km2 (57 sq mi) and the population is about 6,820 (2012).

Flag

The flag of the Austral Islands

The flag of the Austral Islands, in proportions 2:3, is vertically divided red-white-red (1:3:1) with a blue emblem in the white stripe. The emblem is made of a penu (a rock or piece of carved coral used to crush food or medicines, and symbolizes the archipelago), surrounded by five blue stars. The stars represent the five inhabited islands. The red stripes are a reminder that the archipelago is part of French Polynesia, and blue symbolizes the sea.

Coral penu from the Austral Islands

The former flag of the Austral Islands is horizontally divided yellow-red-white-green-blue with a vertical stripe placed along the hoist, covering 1/3 of the flag length and charged with the black writing ARCHIPEL / DES / ILES / AUSTRALES.

The former flag of the Austral Islands

Sources

https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/pf-au.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_Austral_Islands

https://www.artkhade.com/en/object/067121/yPnNzO/a-penu-pounder-austral-islands-polynesia?search=%2Fen%2Fsearch%2Fcoral%3Fl%3D0%2B50%26q%3Dmaterial-62%26ob%3D&r

Rapa Iti

Rapa Iti

Geography

Rapa is an island of the Bass Islands in French Polynesia (but often considered as part of the Austral Islands). The island has a small but well-protected central bay that is surrounded by a ring of relatively high mountains. There are also several small islets around the main island (for example Tauturau and Tapui). The climate is temperate and moist, rains being frequent and cloud and fog are not uncommon. The temperature seldom rises above 23°C (73°F) in the summer, but during winter the temperature can drop below 9°C (48°F) some nights. There are two settlements on the islands: Ahuréi (the main town on the southern shore of that bay) and 'Area (a small village on the northern shore of the bay). There is not an airport on the island.

Other names: Oparo, Rapa.

Location: 27°36′S 144°20′W.

Area: 40 km² /14.9 sq mi (The area of the main island is 38.5 km², 1.5 km² is the area of the offshore islands) 

Highest point: 650 m/ 2,130 ft (Mount Perau)

Population: 530 (in 2016)

Main town: Ahuréi (sometimes called Ahurei, Ha'urei or Ha'uréi) - The town is the southernmost permanently inhabited settlement where French is an official language (not counting settlements with no civilian population).

Map of Rapa Iti

Rapa Iti

History

13th century – Polynesians settled on the island.

22 December 1791 - George Vancouver discovered Rapa Iti for Europe.

Between 1824 and 1830 over three-quarters of the natives died. The reduction of the population was caused by diseases that had been brought by Europeans. Peruvian slavers raids and alcohol caused further reduction in the numbers of the people.

The population of Rapa Iti	Year
1,500 (estimated by Vancouver)	1791
2,000 (estimated by Davis)	1826
300   (according to Moerenhout)	1834
182   (census)	1911
266	1935

1867 – The island was declared a French protectorate.

6 March 1881 – The island was annexed by France. As a result, the native monarchy was abolished.

1887 – Rapa Iti was attached for the administrative purpose to the Austral group.

Sources

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Rapa_Iti

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapa_Iti

http://www.traveltourismblog.com/rapa-iti-island-distant-paradise.php

Pacific Islands Volume II Eastern Pacific Naval Intelligence Division 1943