Raiatea is
the second largest of the Society Islands. The chief town on Raiatea is Uturoa,
administrative center for the Leeward Islands (Îles sous le Vent). The islands of Raiatea
and Tahaa (Tahaa produces 80% of all French Polynesia's vanilla) are both enclosed
by the same coral reef, and may once have been a single island. Raiatea has an area of 238
sq. km. Raiatea’s tallest point is Mt. Tefatoaiti that reaches an altitude of 1017
meters. The 1996 census reported a population of 10,063 persons on Raiatea.
Raiatea and Tahaa islands seen from the
Space Shuttle.
"Image courtesy of the
Image Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center": http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
The rugged landscape of the interior of
Raiatea.
Raiatea and Tahaa lagoon.
The rugged landscape of Raiatea.
Motu in Raiatea lagoon.
The rugged and beautiful landscape of the
interior of Raiatea.
