511:
218:
1511:
1383:
1418:
1393:
1435:
1403:
1562:
204:
1362:
1303:
1500:
1237:
1289:
64:
1318:
1275:
538:. There are raised coral beds high up the mountains, and lava occurs in a variety of forms, even in solid flows. Volcanic activity ceased so long ago that the craters have been almost entirely obliterated by erosion.
1040:, it is not mandatory for the communes in French Polynesia to join an intercommunal council. The three intercommunal councils in existence as of 2022 (including the CCH), all formed on a voluntary basis.
1328:
1113:
1350:
1322:
81:
1252:
1343:
475:. He later revisited the islands twice more. It is a common misconception that he named the Leeward group of islands "Society" in honor of the
128:
21:
100:
721:
695:
1358:
1681:
1257:
1037:
107:
1471:
1336:
208:
1676:
114:
1032:) of the Leeward Islands, with the exception of Bora-Bora, which preferred to remain separate for financial reasons. Unlike in
449:(also part of French Polynesia). Their area is around 404 km (156 sq mi) and their population is over 36,000.
96:
510:
1120:
1026:, CCH) an indirectly elected intercommunal council formed in 2012 by all the communes in the administrative subdivision (
1526:
1426:
495:
1215:
1188:
1018:
Six of the seven communes (out of French
Polynesia's 48 communes) have banded together in a "community of communes" (
458:
147:
1434:
1417:
1402:
1392:
1382:
479:. However, Cook recorded in his journal that he named the islands “Society” because they lie close to each other.
1153:
85:
1464:
498:
did). There were many native resistance movements and conflicts in reaction to this annexation, known as the
121:
1561:
729:
724:. The administrative subdivision is coextensive with the electoral district of the Leeward Islands, one of
685:
1589:
1604:
790:
629:
217:
887:
Administrative centre of the
Leeward Islands; town is situated at the northern tip of Raiatea Island.
1457:
786:
625:
51:
This article is about the western islands of French
Polynesia. For the Caribbean island group, see
74:
982:
426:
327:
676:
around the islands contain a dazzling array of fish and other salt-water-dwelling species.
8:
1033:
706:) of French Polynesia. The capital of the Leeward Islands administrative subdivision is
574:
into the northern
Huahine Nui ("big Huahine") and southern Huahine Iti ("small Huahine")
1449:
1645:
1406:
1211:
1184:
1159:
1149:
606:), the largest island in the group, holding the archipelago's administrative center (
487:
471:
on 12 April 1769 during a
British expedition the purpose of which was to observe the
410:
191:
632:
atoll (also known as
Bellinghausen), the most northerly of the Leeward Islands; and
1484:
1370:
1361:
1280:
831:
Atoll (11 km, 4.2 sq mi) to the north with no permanent inhabitants
725:
717:
472:
422:
332:
1650:
1640:
1635:
1480:
1411:
1396:
1386:
1205:
1178:
1061:
1019:
824:
699:
669:
542:
446:
418:
389:
377:
243:
177:
52:
1308:
1294:
1048:
Tourism is the mainstay of the economy. Agriculturally, the major products are
948:
781:
Primarily the island of
Maupiti, but includes 3 atolls to the west of Maupiti (
1510:
1111:
203:
1670:
1609:
1248:
1243:
854:
523:
476:
430:
233:
36:
23:
1163:
930:
557:
442:
434:
1594:
1551:
1366:
1085:
990:
691:
464:
1536:
1261:. Vol. 25 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 320.
858:
673:
645:
468:
1541:
922:
735:
Uturoa, Tumaraa, and
Taputapuatea communes are all on Raiatea island.
1579:
1302:
798:
571:
549:
269:
1614:
1531:
1146:
Into the blue : boldly going where
Captain Cook has gone before
836:
613:
63:
1655:
1438:
914:
782:
649:
633:
531:
527:
438:
1619:
1242:
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the
1599:
1584:
1499:
1288:
1065:
964:
956:
918:
892:
764:
653:
593:
577:
563:
515:
274:
264:
739:
Islands and communes of the
Leeward Islands of French Polynesia
1546:
1317:
910:
870:
820:
707:
665:
607:
535:
491:
483:
342:
1204:
Matt K. Matsuda (2005). "Society Islands: Tahitian Archives".
672:
inhabiting the small streams on the islands, and the fringing
624:
The westernmost Leeward Islands comprise a three atoll group:
1053:
1049:
828:
816:
587:
279:
1183:. Vol. 39 (2 ed.). Scarecrow Press. p. 107.
986:
952:
862:
541:
The Leeward Islands that lie more to the east are a mainly
1057:
661:
657:
1479:
1270:
1112:
Institut Statistique de Polynésie Française (ISPF).
656:
palms. The limited terrestrial fauna includes feral
1207:
Empire of Love: Histories of France and the Pacific
88:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
570:), the easternmost island of the group; split at
1668:
713:subdivision administrative des Îles Sous-le-vent
636:atoll (also known as Mopelia) to the southeast.
1203:
1176:
985:(the location of the commune administration),
951:(the location of the commune administration),
917:(the location of the commune administration),
865:, Iripau, Niua, Ruutia, Tapuamu and Vaitoare.
601:
183:
1465:
1344:
1143:
993:, Maroe, Parea and Tefarerii on Huahine Iti.
486:. In 1847, the British and French signed the
482:In 1840, France declared a protectorate over
1210:. Oxford University Press. pp. 91–112.
1027:
711:
169:
989:, Fitii and Maeva, all on Huahine Nui; and
959:, forming the east side of Raiatea Island.
925:, forming the west side of Raiatea Island.
522:The islands are mountainous, consisting of
394:
1472:
1458:
1351:
1337:
216:
981:Consists of the 8 associated communes of
947:Consists of the 3 associated communes of
909:Consists of the 4 associated communes of
853:Consists of the 8 associated communes of
815:Consists of the 3 associated communes of
494:of France in 1888 (eight years after the
148:Learn how and when to remove this message
1247:
1107:
1105:
509:
1669:
1197:
556:), known for its tourism industry and
97:"Leeward Islands" Society Islands
1453:
1332:
1102:
388:
1170:
1086:"Leeward Islands (French Polynesia)"
463:The first European to encounter the
86:adding citations to reliable sources
57:
1114:"Recensement de la population 2022"
1078:
728:'s six electoral districts for the
610:) and tallest point (Mount Tefatua)
13:
1682:Archipelagoes of the Pacific Ocean
1180:Historical Dictionary of Polynesia
639:
620:), which lies just north of Uturoa
14:
1693:
1633:Archipelagos of French Polynesia:
1323:Leeward Islands (Society Islands)
1266:
679:
459:Annexation of the Leeward Islands
292:404 km (156 sq mi)
1560:
1509:
1498:
1433:
1416:
1401:
1391:
1381:
1360:
1316:
1301:
1287:
1273:
1235:
668:. There are several species of
202:
62:
73:needs additional citations for
16:Archipelago in French Polynesia
1677:Islands of the Society Islands
1137:
628:(also known as Scilly Atoll);
502:, which continued until 1897.
417:) are the western part of the
1:
1071:
1024:communauté de communes Havaʻi
560:-era United States naval base
345: (pop. 8,735, urban)
730:Assembly of French Polynesia
686:Politics of French Polynesia
505:
7:
1119:(in French). Archived from
722:administrative subdivisions
490:and these islands became a
300:1,017 m (3337 ft)
209:Flag of the Leeward Islands
10:
1698:
1043:
704:subdivision administrative
683:
467:was British naval officer
456:
452:
50:
1628:
1569:
1558:
1521:
1491:
1377:
963:
929:
891:
869:
835:
797:
763:
758:
755:
753:Population (2022 census)
752:
750:Population (2017 census)
749:
746:
743:
362:
358:36,007 (Aug. 2022 census)
354:
349:
338:
326:
317:
312:
304:
296:
288:
257:
249:
239:
229:
224:
215:
201:
165:
1177:Robert D. Craig (2002).
433:. They lie south of the
1258:Encyclopædia Britannica
710:. The Leeward Islands (
696:administrative division
1148:. London: Bloomsbury.
1144:Horwitz, Tony (2003).
1028:
1023:
712:
703:
617:
602:
597:
581:
567:
553:
519:
414:
404:Islands Under-the-Wind
381:
366:89/km (231/sq mi)
297:Highest elevation
184:
170:
684:Further information:
526:. They are formed of
513:
457:Further information:
427:overseas collectivity
386:French pronunciation:
328:Overseas collectivity
1325:at Wikimedia Commons
82:improve this article
1034:metropolitan France
740:
518:island from a plane
431:South Pacific Ocean
390:[ilsuləvɑ̃]
162:
33: /
1090:Flags of the World
738:
520:
429:of France, in the
339:Largest settlement
305:Highest point
160:
37:17.533°S 149.833°W
1664:
1663:
1447:
1446:
1407:Marquesas Islands
1321:Media related to
1016:
1015:
756:Density (per km)
488:Jarnac Convention
445:and north of the
415:Fenua Raro Mata’i
382:Îles Sous-le-vent
370:
369:
185:Fenua Raro Mata’i
171:Îles Sous-le-vent
158:
157:
150:
132:
42:-17.533; -149.833
1689:
1564:
1527:Windward Islands
1513:
1502:
1485:French Polynesia
1474:
1467:
1460:
1451:
1450:
1437:
1427:Windward Islands
1420:
1405:
1395:
1385:
1371:French Polynesia
1365:
1364:
1353:
1346:
1339:
1330:
1329:
1320:
1311:
1306:
1305:
1297:
1292:
1291:
1283:
1281:Geography portal
1278:
1277:
1276:
1262:
1241:
1239:
1238:
1222:
1221:
1201:
1195:
1194:
1174:
1168:
1167:
1141:
1135:
1134:
1132:
1131:
1125:
1118:
1109:
1100:
1099:
1097:
1096:
1082:
1038:overseas regions
1031:
741:
737:
726:French Polynesia
718:French Polynesia
715:
605:
496:Windward Islands
473:transit of Venus
423:French Polynesia
408:
405:
402:
399:
396:
392:
387:
333:French Polynesia
220:
206:
195:
187:
181:
173:
163:
159:
153:
146:
142:
139:
133:
131:
90:
66:
58:
48:
47:
45:
44:
43:
38:
34:
31:
30:
29:
26:
1697:
1696:
1692:
1691:
1690:
1688:
1687:
1686:
1667:
1666:
1665:
1660:
1624:
1575:Leeward Islands
1565:
1556:
1519:
1518:
1517:
1516:
1515:
1514:
1505:
1504:
1503:
1487:
1481:Society Islands
1478:
1448:
1443:
1439:Tuamotu Islands
1422:Leeward Islands
1412:Society Islands
1397:Gambier Islands
1387:Austral Islands
1373:
1359:
1357:
1307:
1300:
1293:
1286:
1279:
1274:
1272:
1269:
1253:Society Islands
1251:, ed. (1911). "
1236:
1234:
1226:
1225:
1218:
1202:
1198:
1191:
1175:
1171:
1156:
1142:
1138:
1129:
1127:
1123:
1116:
1110:
1103:
1094:
1092:
1084:
1083:
1079:
1074:
1062:mother-of-pearl
1046:
1029:circumscription
747:Land area (km)
688:
682:
670:freshwater fish
644:Flora includes
642:
640:Flora and fauna
543:volcanic island
508:
461:
455:
447:Austral Islands
441:), east of the
419:Society Islands
406:
403:
400:
397:
385:
374:Leeward Islands
322:
284:
244:Society Islands
211:
197:
196:
189:
182:
175:
161:Leeward Islands
154:
143:
137:
134:
91:
89:
79:
67:
56:
53:Leeward Islands
41:
39:
35:
32:
27:
24:
22:
20:
19:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1695:
1685:
1684:
1679:
1662:
1661:
1659:
1658:
1653:
1648:
1643:
1638:
1629:
1626:
1625:
1623:
1622:
1617:
1612:
1607:
1602:
1597:
1592:
1587:
1582:
1570:
1567:
1566:
1559:
1557:
1555:
1554:
1549:
1544:
1539:
1534:
1522:
1520:
1508:
1507:
1506:
1497:
1496:
1495:
1494:
1493:
1492:
1489:
1488:
1477:
1476:
1469:
1462:
1454:
1445:
1444:
1442:
1441:
1431:
1430:
1429:
1424:
1409:
1399:
1389:
1378:
1375:
1374:
1356:
1355:
1348:
1341:
1333:
1327:
1326:
1313:
1312:
1309:Oceania portal
1298:
1295:Islands portal
1284:
1268:
1267:External links
1265:
1264:
1263:
1249:Chisholm, Hugh
1224:
1223:
1216:
1196:
1189:
1169:
1154:
1136:
1101:
1076:
1075:
1073:
1070:
1045:
1042:
1014:
1013:
1011:
1008:
1005:
1002:
999:
995:
994:
979:
976:
973:
970:
967:
961:
960:
945:
942:
939:
936:
933:
927:
926:
907:
904:
901:
898:
895:
889:
888:
885:
882:
879:
876:
873:
867:
866:
851:
848:
845:
842:
839:
833:
832:
813:
810:
807:
804:
801:
795:
794:
779:
776:
773:
770:
767:
761:
760:
757:
754:
751:
748:
745:
681:
680:Administration
678:
641:
638:
622:
621:
611:
591:
585:
575:
561:
507:
504:
454:
451:
368:
367:
364:
360:
359:
356:
352:
351:
347:
346:
340:
336:
335:
330:
324:
323:
318:
315:
314:
313:Administration
310:
309:
306:
302:
301:
298:
294:
293:
290:
286:
285:
283:
282:
277:
272:
267:
261:
259:
255:
254:
251:
247:
246:
241:
237:
236:
231:
227:
226:
222:
221:
213:
212:
207:
199:
198:
168:
166:
156:
155:
70:
68:
61:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1694:
1683:
1680:
1678:
1675:
1674:
1672:
1657:
1654:
1652:
1649:
1647:
1644:
1642:
1639:
1637:
1634:
1631:
1630:
1627:
1621:
1618:
1616:
1613:
1611:
1608:
1606:
1603:
1601:
1598:
1596:
1593:
1591:
1588:
1586:
1583:
1581:
1578:
1576:
1572:
1571:
1568:
1563:
1553:
1550:
1548:
1545:
1543:
1540:
1538:
1535:
1533:
1530:
1528:
1524:
1523:
1512:
1501:
1490:
1486:
1482:
1475:
1470:
1468:
1463:
1461:
1456:
1455:
1452:
1440:
1436:
1432:
1428:
1425:
1423:
1419:
1415:
1414:
1413:
1410:
1408:
1404:
1400:
1398:
1394:
1390:
1388:
1384:
1380:
1379:
1376:
1372:
1368:
1363:
1354:
1349:
1347:
1342:
1340:
1335:
1334:
1331:
1324:
1319:
1315:
1314:
1310:
1304:
1299:
1296:
1290:
1285:
1282:
1271:
1260:
1259:
1254:
1250:
1245:
1244:public domain
1233:
1232:
1231:
1230:
1219:
1217:0-19-516294-3
1213:
1209:
1208:
1200:
1192:
1190:0-8108-4237-8
1186:
1182:
1181:
1173:
1165:
1161:
1157:
1151:
1147:
1140:
1126:on 2007-12-03
1122:
1115:
1108:
1106:
1091:
1087:
1081:
1077:
1069:
1067:
1063:
1059:
1055:
1051:
1041:
1039:
1035:
1030:
1025:
1021:
1012:
1009:
1006:
1003:
1000:
997:
996:
992:
988:
984:
980:
977:
974:
971:
968:
966:
962:
958:
954:
950:
946:
943:
940:
937:
934:
932:
928:
924:
920:
916:
912:
908:
905:
902:
899:
896:
894:
890:
886:
883:
880:
877:
874:
872:
868:
864:
860:
856:
852:
849:
846:
843:
840:
838:
834:
830:
826:
822:
818:
814:
811:
808:
805:
802:
800:
796:
792:
788:
784:
780:
777:
774:
771:
768:
766:
762:
742:
736:
733:
731:
727:
723:
719:
716:) are one of
714:
709:
705:
701:
697:
694:comprises an
693:
687:
677:
675:
671:
667:
663:
659:
655:
651:
647:
637:
635:
631:
627:
619:
615:
612:
609:
604:
599:
595:
592:
589:
586:
583:
579:
576:
573:
569:
565:
562:
559:
555:
551:
548:
547:
546:
544:
539:
537:
533:
529:
525:
524:volcanic rock
517:
512:
503:
501:
497:
493:
489:
485:
480:
478:
477:Royal Society
474:
470:
466:
460:
450:
448:
444:
440:
436:
432:
428:
424:
420:
416:
412:
391:
383:
379:
375:
365:
361:
357:
353:
348:
344:
341:
337:
334:
331:
329:
325:
321:
316:
311:
307:
303:
299:
295:
291:
287:
281:
278:
276:
273:
271:
268:
266:
263:
262:
260:
258:Major islands
256:
252:
250:Total islands
248:
245:
242:
238:
235:
234:Pacific Ocean
232:
228:
223:
219:
214:
210:
205:
200:
193:
186:
179:
172:
167:Native name:
164:
152:
149:
141:
130:
127:
123:
120:
116:
113:
109:
106:
102:
99: –
98:
94:
93:Find sources:
87:
83:
77:
76:
71:This article
69:
65:
60:
59:
54:
49:
46:
1632:
1574:
1573:
1525:
1421:
1367:Archipelagos
1256:
1229:Attribution:
1228:
1227:
1206:
1199:
1179:
1172:
1145:
1139:
1128:. Retrieved
1121:the original
1093:. Retrieved
1089:
1080:
1047:
1017:
931:Taputapuatea
734:
689:
664:, and small
643:
623:
558:World War II
540:
521:
500:Leewards War
499:
481:
462:
435:Line Islands
373:
371:
363:Pop. density
350:Demographics
319:
144:
135:
125:
118:
111:
104:
92:
80:Please help
75:verification
72:
18:
827:; includes
692:archipelago
674:coral reefs
616:(Tahitian:
596:(Tahitian:
580:(Tahitian:
566:(Tahitian:
552:(Tahitian:
465:archipelago
240:Archipelago
40: /
1671:Categories
1155:0747564558
1130:2022-08-22
1095:2024-07-31
1072:References
646:breadfruit
469:James Cook
355:Population
108:newspapers
1651:Societies
1646:Marquesas
1595:Maupihaʻa
1580:Bora Bora
1552:Tetiʻaroa
799:Bora Bora
572:high tide
568:Mataʻirea
550:Bora Bora
545:cluster:
506:Geography
437:(part of
270:Bora Bora
225:Geography
1656:Tuamotus
1641:Gambiers
1636:Australs
1610:Raʻiātea
1605:Motu One
1537:Mehetiʻa
1164:52738452
1036:and its
915:Tevaitoa
859:Haʻamene
855:Faʻaʻaha
791:Motu One
783:Maupihaa
744:Commune
720:'s five
650:pandanus
634:Maupihaa
630:Motu One
532:dolerite
528:trachyte
514:View of
439:Kiribati
411:Tahitian
230:Location
192:Tahitian
138:May 2024
28:149°50′W
1600:Maupiti
1590:Manuaʻe
1585:Huahine
1542:Moʻorea
1246::
1066:vanilla
1044:Tourism
1007:36,007
1004:35,393
965:Huahine
957:Puohine
923:Vaiaʻau
919:Tehurui
893:Tumaraa
809:10,758
806:10,549
765:Maupiti
666:lizards
654:coconut
603:Ioretea
594:Raiatea
578:Maupiti
564:Huahine
516:Raiatea
453:History
398:
308:Tefatua
275:Huahine
265:Raiatea
122:scholar
25:17°32′S
1615:Tahaʻa
1547:Tahiti
1532:Maiʻao
1240:
1214:
1187:
1162:
1152:
1064:, and
1020:French
1001:404.0
998:Total
991:Haʻapū
975:6,258
972:6,075
941:5,007
938:4,792
911:Fetuna
903:3,718
900:3,721
884:229.5
881:3,663
878:3,778
871:Uturoa
847:5,296
844:5,234
837:Tahaʻa
821:Faanui
812:258.9
803:41.55
787:Manuae
775:1,302
772:1,286
759:Notes
708:Uturoa
700:French
652:, and
626:Manuae
614:Tahaʻa
608:Uturoa
598:Havaʻi
582:Maurua
554:Vavaʻu
536:basalt
492:colony
484:Tahiti
378:French
343:Uturoa
320:France
188:
178:French
174:
124:
117:
110:
103:
95:
1620:Tūpai
1124:(PDF)
1117:(PDF)
1054:sugar
1050:copra
1010:89.1
978:83.7
969:74.8
949:Avera
944:59.3
935:84.4
906:51.7
897:71.9
875:16.0
850:58.7
841:90.2
829:Tupai
817:Nunue
778:59.9
769:21.7
618:Uporu
590:atoll
588:Tupai
443:Cooks
425:, an
280:Tahaa
129:JSTOR
115:books
1212:ISBN
1185:ISBN
1160:OCLC
1150:ISBN
987:Faie
983:Fare
955:and
953:Opoa
921:and
863:Hipu
825:Anau
823:and
789:and
690:The
662:rats
658:pigs
534:and
395:lit.
372:The
289:Area
101:news
1483:of
1369:of
1255:".
1058:rum
793:).
600:or
421:in
84:by
1673::
1158:.
1104:^
1088:.
1068:.
1060:,
1056:,
1052:,
1022::
913:,
861:,
857:,
819:,
785:,
732:.
702::
660:,
648:,
530:,
413::
409:;
393:,
384:,
380::
1577::
1529::
1473:e
1466:t
1459:v
1352:e
1345:t
1338:v
1220:.
1193:.
1166:.
1133:.
1098:.
698:(
584:)
407:'
401:'
376:(
253:9
194:)
190:(
180:)
176:(
151:)
145:(
140:)
136:(
126:·
119:·
112:·
105:·
78:.
55:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
_topographic_map-fr.svg)