French Polynesia: Background & Geography
| Introduction | French Polynesia |
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Background:
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The French annexed various Polynesian island groups during the 19th century. In September 1995, France stirred up widespread protests by resuming nuclear testing on the Mururoa atoll after a three-year moratorium. The tests were suspended in January 1996. |
| Geography | French Polynesia |
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Location:
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Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from South America to Australia |
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Geographic coordinates:
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15 00 S, 140 00 W |
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Map references:
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Oceania |
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Area:
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total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls)
water: 507 sq km land: 3,660 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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2,525 km |
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Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
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territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical, but moderate |
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Terrain:
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mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m |
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Natural resources:
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timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower |
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Land use:
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arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 6.01% other: 92.35% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km |
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Natural hazards:
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occasional cyclonic storms in January |
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Environment - current issues:
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NA |
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Geography - note:
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includes five archipelagoes (4 volcanic, 1 coral); Makatea in French Polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Nauru |