Austral Islands
| Native name: Îles Australes | |
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| Geography | |
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Archipelago | Polynesia |
| Total islands | 7 |
| Major islands | Tupua'i, Rūrutu, Ra'ivāvae, Rapa Iti |
| Area | 148 km2 (57 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
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France
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| Overseas collectivity | French Polynesia |
| Largest settlement | Rūrutu (pop. 2,322) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 6,820 (2012) |
| Pop. density | 43 /km2 (111 /sq mi) |
Coordinates: 23°0′S 150°0′W / 23.000°S 150.000°W
The Tuha'a Pae, or Austral Islands (French: Îles Australes or Archipel des Australes), are the southernmost group of islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the South Pacific. Geographically, they consist of two separate archipelagos, namely in the northwest the Tupua'i islands (French: Îles Tubuaï) consisting of the Îles Maria, Rimatara, Rūrutu, Tupua'i Island proper and Ra'ivāvae, and in the southeast the Bass Islands (French: Îles basses) composed of the main island of Rapa Iti and the small Marotiri (also known as Bass Rocks or Îlots de Bass). Inhabitants of the islands are known for their pandanus fiber weaving skills. The islands of Maria and Marotiri are not suitable for sustained habitation. Several of the islands have uninhabited islets or rocks off their coastlines. Austral Islands' population is about 6,300 on almost 150 km2 (58 sq mi). The capital of the Austral Islands administrative subdivision is Tupua'i.
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Wikipedia