POLYNÉSIE
FRANÇAISE (FRENCH POLYNESIA, POLINESIA FRANCESE)
HUAHINE
Huahine is a
part of the Society Islands, it's the first island of the Leeward Islands you meet coming
from Tahiti. Huahine is actually two islands, Huahine Nui (Big
Huahine) and Huahine Iti (Little Huahine), formerly joined only by a sandspit at low tide,
the two islands are now connected by a small bridge. The two islands cover a combined area
of 74 sq. km., the highest point is Mt. Turi, with a height of 669 meters. The 1996 census
recorded a population of 5,411 persons in Huahine. The island has many remains of
dwellings and marae. The most important have been restored at Fare. Other sites have been
restored at Vaitootia, Faahia, Maeva and along the shores of Lake Fauna Nui where
archeological discoveries include the marae of eight island chiefs. Huahine has some 280
archeological structures, these include remains of dwellings, horticultural developments,
religious and ceremonial monuments.
Huahine island seen from the Space
Shuttle.
ISS006-E-38897 "Image
courtesy of the Image Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center":
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
Maroe Bay, Baie de Maroe, Huahine. On the
background Huahine Iti.
