Gambier Islands
| Native name: Îles Gambier | |
|---|---|
|
|
 |
|
| Geography | |
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Archipelago | Polynesia |
| Total islands | 14 |
| Major islands | Mangareva, Akamaru, Aukena, Taravai |
| Area | 31 km2 (12 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
|
France
|
|
| Overseas collectivity | French Polynesia |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 1,641 (2007) |
| French commune of Gambier | |
|---|---|
A ship from Gambier
|
|
 |
|
| Coordinates: 23°08′S 134°56′W / 23.14°S 134.94°WCoordinates: 23°08′S 134°56′W / 23.14°S 134.94°W | |
| Country | France |
| Overseas collectivity | French Polynesia |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2008–2014) | Monique Labbeyi-Richeton |
| Area | 46 km2 (18 sq mi) |
| Population (2007)1 | 1,641 |
| • Density | 36/km2 (92/sq mi) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 98719 / 98755 |
| Elevation | 0–441 m (0–1,447 ft) |
| 1Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. | |
The Gambier Islands or Mangareva Islands (French: Îles Gambier or Archipel des Gambier) are a populated (1641 people), small (30 km2 or 12 sq mi) group of islands, remnants of a caldera along with islets on the surrounding fringing reef, in French Polynesia, located at the southeast terminus of the Tuamotu archipelago. They are generally considered a separate island group from Tuamotu both because their culture and language (Mangarevan) are much more closely related to those of the Marquesas Islands, and because, while the Tuamotus comprise several chains of coral atolls, the Gambiers are of volcanic origin with central high islands. Because of their proximity, the Acteon Group, and the nearby atolls of Maria Est, Morane, Marutea Sud and Temoe (23°20′46″S 134°28′28″W / 23.34611°S 134.47444°W), all permanently uninhabited, are sometimes included among the Gambiers.
The commune of Gambier is made up of the Gambier Islands (with uninhabited Temoe Atoll 40 km southeast of the main Gambier group), the uninhabited Acteon Group to the northwest (Matureivavao, Tenararo, Tenarunga, Vahanga), and the also uninhabited atolls of Marutea Sud, Maria Est and Morane. This group of islands and atolls covers an area of 35 km².
...
Wikipedia