Vaitape

Vaitape is the largest city of island Bora Bora in French Polynesia. It has population of 4,927. This city has about half of the island's population which is about 9,000. It is located about 130 miles (230 kilometres) northwest of Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia. The main language of Vaitape is French, although 20 percent of the Population speaks Tahitian.

Vaitape | Population / 4,927 | Island / Bora Bora | Country / French Polynesia

Weather

The city has a tropical climate since it is in the tropics.

Geography

Vaitape is located on the western side of the main island of Bora Bora. It has a view of the western part of the Bora Bora lagoon. It is about 2,000 miles east of Sydney, Australia. It also has a view of Bora Boras tallest mountain which is Mont Otemanu. It is surrounded with Bora Bora's islets marking the end of the Bora Bora lagoon. The city is located about 20 feet above sea level. Mount Pahia is another major mountain close to Vaitape.

Transportation

The Bora Bora Airport is an airport outside Vaitape on one of Bora Bora's surrouning islets. Small boats leave the mainland and go across the Bora Bora Lagoon. Several ferries leave Bora Bora and sail to Tahiti and Moorea. Some of these ferries are the Aremeti ferry and the Mo'orea Ferry. Uturoa has a few ferries coming into Vaitape.

Air

Main Article: Bora Bora Airport

The Bora Bora Airport is an airport that serves Bora Bora and the boats that sail across the lagoon to reach the islet are brown. The airport has many destinations to other islands of French Polynesia. If the residents want to make an international flight, they would take Air Tahiti to the Faaa International Airport in Faaa. The Faaa International Airport is the only airport in French Polynesia serving international flights. The airport is located on Tahiti. Air Tahiti can be seen from Vaitape landing at the airport. So far, none of the planes have landed in or near Vaitape.

Sea

The ferries of Aremiti and Mo'rea leave the Vaitape wharf 2 times a day. The Aremiti ferry sails to both Tahiti and Moorea. The Aremiti ferry is white with red and white stripes. The Mo'orea ferry is white on the top and blue on the bottom. The Mo'orea ferry only sails to Moorea to the Vaiare Wharf. Sometimes, cruiseships from Papeete leave the wharf and come to Vaitape to stop and pick up more islanders. Some ferries sail to Uturoa on Raiatea Island. Other small boats go to other of Bora Bora's islets to have tours and walk around.

Road

Bora Bora's main road runs through Vaitape and is the busiest street of Vaitape. There are some other major streets are the small street that links the main road to a Bora Bora Pearl shop. The closest freeway to Vaitape is Tahiti's west coast freeway.

History of Vaitape

The area was first settlled by early polynesians during the 4th century. Many more people arrived on canoes and the population had grown. The early polynesians had made houses out of grass. They also hunted fish with spears and sticks. The Tahitians lost during the French Tahitian War making Tahiti and all the other islands belong to France. During the California Gold Rush, People had left Vaitape and went goldseeking. The only way to go to California at that time time was by ship. The Faaa International Airport was not finished yet. By the 1900's the area had a bunch of people and Bora Bora was in the World War 2.

Economy

There are some supermarkets located in the city. There are some things like Fish, Fruit, Bread, Cereal,and French Pastries in the Supermarket. Some of the fruits are breadfruits, pinapples, and Bananas. Some of the fish are salmon. Many fruits are imported from Faaa.

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File:Coca-Cola Machine in Vaitape, Bora Bora.jpg| Coca-Cola Machine in coastal Vaitape

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