Huahine

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Huahine
File:HuahineISS006-E-38879.PNG
NASA picture of Huahine viewed from the north
Huahine is located in French Polynesia
Huahine
Geography
Location Pacific Ocean
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Archipelago Society Islands
Area Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
Length 16 km (9.9 mi)
Width 13 km (8.1 mi)
Highest elevation 699 m (2,293 ft)
Highest point Mount Turi
Country
France
Overseas collectivity French Polynesia
Administrative subdivision Leeward Islands
Commune Huahine
Demographics
Population 6,303[1] (as of 2012)
Density 84 /km2 (218 /sq mi)
Huahine
Flag of Huahine
Flag
Map of Huahine
Map of Huahine
Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Country France
Overseas collectivity French Polynesia
Government
 • Mayor (2014 - 2020) Marcelin Lisan dit Titi
Area 74.8 km2 (28.9 sq mi)
Population (2012)1 6,303
 • Density 84/km2 (220/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 98724 / 98731
1 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Huahine is an island located among the Society Islands, in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. It is part of the Leeward Islands group (Îles sous le Vent). The island has a population of about 6,300.

Geography

Huahine measures 16 km in length, with a maximum width of 13 km. It is made up of two main islands surrounded by a fringing coral reef with several islets, or motu. Huahine Nui (Big Huahine) lies to the north and Huahine Iti (Little Huahine) to the south. The two islands are separated by a few hundred yards of water and joined by a sandspit at low tide. A small bridge was built to connect Huahine Nui and Huahine Iti.

In the northwest of Huahine Nui lies a 375 ha brackish lake known as Lac Fauna Nui (Lac Maeva). This lake is all that remains of the ancient atoll lagoon. Air transportation is available via Huahine airport, located on the northern shore of Huahine Nui.

Administration

Administratively Huahine is a commune (municipality) part of the administrative subdivision of the Leeward Islands. Huahine consists of the following associated communes:

  • Faie
  • Fare
  • Fitii
  • Haapu
  • Maeva
  • Maroe
  • Parea
  • Tefarerii

The administrative centre of the commune is the settlement of Fare, on Huahine Nui.

Tourist attraction

One of the famous[citation needed] attractions on Huahine is a bridge that crosses over a stream with 0.9 m - 1.8 m long eels. These eels are deemed sacred by the locals, by local mythology. While viewing these slithering creatures, tourists can buy a can of mackerel and feed the eels. The Fa'ahia archaeological site in the north of the island has revealed subfossil remains of several species of extinct birds exterminated by the earliest Polynesian colonists of the island.

Fare, Huahine: After-school play is interrupted by the catch and release of a stingray.

See also

References

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