Huahine
  Huahine | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 16°44′S 151°0′W / 16.733°S 151.000°W |
| Archipelago | Society Islands |
| Area | 77.6 km2 (30.0 sq mi) |
| Length | 16 km (9.9 mi) |
| Width | 13 km (8.1 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 699 m (2293 ft) |
| Administration | |
France | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 6,303[1] |
| Pop. density | 84/km2 (218/sq mi) |
Huahine | |
|---|---|
 Flag | |
 | |
Location of Huahine  | |
| Coordinates: 16°44′S 151°00′W / 16.73°S 151.0°W | |
| Country | France |
| Overseas collectivity | French Polynesia |
| Subdivision | Leeward Islands |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2014 - 2020) | Marcelin Lisan |
| Area 1 | 80 km2 (30 sq mi) |
| Population (2012) | 6,303 |
| • Density | 79/km2 (200/sq mi) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 98724 /98731 |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
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 (10 mi) in length, with a maximum width of 13 km (8 mi). 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 hectares (926.65 acres) 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 freshwater 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.
See also
References
- ^ "Population". Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française (in French). Retrieved 11 January 2015.
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