Tubuai (Austral Islands)
NASA picture of Tubuai
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 Tubuai
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 23°23′S 149°27′W / 23.383°S 149.450°W |
| Archipelago | Australes |
| Total islands | 7 |
| Area | 85 km2 (33 sq mi) (lagoon) 45 km2 (17 sq mi) (above water) |
| Highest elevation | 422 m (1,385 ft) |
| Highest point | Mt Taita'a |
| Administration | |
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France
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| Overseas collectivity | French Polynesia |
| Administrative subdivision | Australes |
| Commune | Tubuai |
| Largest settlement | Tupua'i |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 2170 (2012) |
| Pop. density | 48 /km2 (124 /sq mi) |
| Tubuai | ||
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| Coordinates: 23°23′S 149°27′W / 23.38°S 149.45°WCoordinates: 23°23′S 149°27′W / 23.38°S 149.45°W | ||
| Country | France | |
| Overseas collectivity | French Polynesia | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Fernand Tahiata | |
| Area1 | 45 km2 (17 sq mi) | |
| Population (2012)2 | 2,170 | |
| • Density | 48/km2 (120/sq mi) | |
| INSEE/Postal code | 98753 /98754 | |
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1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. |
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1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
Tubuai or Tupua'i is the main island of the Tubuai Island group, located at 23°23′00″S 149°27′00″W / 23.38333°S 149.45000°W, 640 km (400 mi) south of Tahiti. In addition to Tubuai, the group of islands include Rimatara, Rurutu, Raivavae and the uninhabited Îles Maria. They are part of the Austral Islands in the far southwest of French Polynesia in the south Pacific Ocean. Tubuai island sustains a population of 2,170 people on 45 km² of land. Due to its southerly position, Tubuai has notably cooler weather than Tahiti.
The island is ringed by a lagoon formed by an encircling coral reef. A break in the reef that enables passage for ships is located on the north side of the island. Tubuai has two volcanic domes, with its highest point, Mt Taita'a, being 422 meters. Six or seven islets called motus lie along the reef rim that encircles the island. These were described in the late 1700s as having an abundance of Toa trees, which the native islanders used in housebuilding and in making war clubs and spears due to the wood's density.
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Wikipedia