Austral Islands

Austral Islands
Group of islands (pop., 1996: 6,563), southern French Polynesia.

The southernmost part of French Polynesia (austral is Latin for "south"), the islands form a chain about 850 mi (1,370 km) long. They were sighted by Capt. James Cook in 1769 and 1777. They were taken over by the French in the late 19th century. The inhabited islands are Rimatara, Rurutu, Tubuai, Raevavae, and Rapa.

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French  Îles Australes,  also called  Tubuai Islands,  
      southernmost archipelago of French Polynesia. Volcanic in origin, they are part of a vast submerged mountain chain (probably a southeasterly extension of the Cook Islands) in the central South Pacific. Scattered for 800 miles (1,300 km), they comprise five inhabited islands—Raivavae (6 square miles [16 square km]), Rapa (15 square miles [39 square km]), Rimatara, (3 square miles [8 square km]), Rurutu (11 square miles [29 square km]), and Tubuai (18 square miles [47 square km])—as well as the uninhabited Marotiri Rocks and Maria Island. Four of the islands were sighted by Captain James Cook—Rimatara and Rurutu in 1769 and Raivavae and Tubuai eight years later. In 1791 George Vancouver sighted the southernmost island, Rapa, the broken rim of a former volcano curved around the harbour of Ahurei Bay. The whole group was brought under French protection between 1880 and 1889.

      Major settlements include Mataura on Tubuai, Amaru on Raivavae, Ahurei on Rapa, and Moerai on Rurutu. The inhabitants are predominantly Protestant. Polynesian traditions are unusually well preserved in the Australs because of their comparative isolation. Principal resources are fish, coffee, taros, copra, and oranges. Pop. (1988 est.) 6,509.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Austral Islands — Infobox Islands name = Austral Islands image caption = Flag of the Austral Islands image size = 150px locator native name = Îles Australes native name link = French language nickname = location = Pacific Ocean coordinates = archipelago =… …   Wikipedia

  • Austral Islands — noun a chain of small islands in French Polynesia • Syn: ↑Tubuai Islands • Instance Hypernyms: ↑archipelago • Part Holonyms: ↑French Polynesia, ↑French Oceania …   Useful english dictionary

  • Austral Islands — geographical name islands S Pacific S of Tahiti belonging to France population 6509 …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Austral Islands — /ɒstrəl ˈaɪləndz/ (say ostruhl uyluhndz) plural noun → Tubuai Islands …  

  • Music of the Austral Islands — The Austral Islands are part of the territory of French Polynesia. The music of the islands is similar to the music of other Polynesian islands. The largest of the Austral Islands is Tubuai, which is known for its ancient, atonal singing style,… …   Wikipedia

  • Marotiri (Austral Islands) — Southern rock of Marotiri Marotiri or Bass Rocks …   Wikipedia

  • Tubuai (Austral Islands) — French commune|nomcommune=Tubuai région= Collectivités d outre mer département= French Polynesia arrondissement= canton= insee=98753 cp=98754 maire=Chantal Tahiata mandat= intercomm= longitude= 149.45 latitude= 23.38 alt moy= alt mini= alt… …   Wikipedia

  • Austral — may refer to: *Austral Islands, the southernmost group of islands in French Polynesia *Austral language, the language of the Austral Islands *Austral, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney, Australia *Argentine austral, a former currency of… …   Wikipedia

  • Rurutu (Austral Islands) — Infobox Commune de France|nomcommune=Rurutu région= Collectivités d outre mer département= Polynésie française insee=98744 cp=98753 maire=Frédéric Riveta lat long=coord|22|27|10|S|151|20|23|W alt mini=0 m alt maxi=385 m hectares=2900 km²=29 sans …   Wikipedia

  • Austral language — language name=Austral nativename= familycolor=Austronesian states=French Polynesia region=Austral Islands speakers=8,000 (1987) fam2=Malayo Polynesian(MP) fam3=Central Eastern MP fam4=Eastern MP fam5=Oceanic fam6=Central Eastern Oceanic… …   Wikipedia

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