Vaitape

Vaitape is the largest city of island Bora Bora in French Polynesia. It has a population of 4,927, about half of the island's population which is about 9,000. It is located about 130 mi (210 km) northwest of Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia. The main language of Vaitape is French, although 20 percent of the population speaks Tahitian.

The area was first settled by early Polynesians who arrived on canoes during the 4th century. The early Polynesians built grass huts and hunted fish with spears and sticks. The Tahitians lost the French Tahitian War making Tahiti and all the other islands belong to France. During the California Gold Rush, many people left Vaitape in search for gold. By the 1900s the population of the area had grown significantly, and during World War II it served as a military supply base, and it had an oil depot, an airstrip, and a seaplane base.

The city has a tropical climate since it is in the tropics.

Vaitape is located on the western side of the main island of Bora Bora. It has a view of the western part of the Bora Bora lagoon. It is about 2,000 mi (3,200 km) east of Sydney, Australia. It also has a view of Bora Bora's tallest mountain, Mont Otemanu. It is surrounded with islets marking the end of the Bora Bora lagoon. The city is located about 20 ft (6.1 m) above mean sea level. Mount Pahia is another major mountain close to Vaitape.

Bora Bora Airport is an airport outside Vaitape on Motu Mute on the northern part of Bora Bora. Small boats leave the mainland and go across the Bora Bora Lagoon. Several ferries leave Bora Bora and sail to Tahiti and Moorea. Some of these ferries are the Aremeti ferry and the Moorea ferry. Uturoa has a few ferries coming into Vaitape.

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