Gambier Archipelago

Gambier Islands

Native name: Îles Gambier
Flag of the Gambier Islands
The Gambier Islands form the easternmost part of French Polynesia
Geography
Location	Pacific Ocean
Archipelago	Polynesia
Total islands	14
Major islands	Mangareva, Akamaru, Aukena, Taravai
Area	29.6 km2 (11.4 sq mi)
Administration
France
Overseas collectivity	French Polynesia
Demographics
Population	1319 (2016)

The Gambier Islands (French: Îles Gambier or Archipel des Gambier) are a populated (1319 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.

the Gambier Islands include the Mangareva Islands (The Gambier Islands proper) which have an enclosing coral reef which is broken by only three passages to the open sea. Besides Mangareva, the other notable high islands of the group are Akamaru, Angakauitai, Aukena, Kamaka, Kouaku, Makapu, Makaroa, Manui, Mekiro and Taravai. These are primarily of volcanic origin. A number of others are actually coral islands, hence of secondary volcanic origin, including Papuri, Puaumu, Totengengie and the Tokorua group.