Marquesas Islands, French Polynesian archipelago in South Pacific Ocean
The Marquesas Islands contain fifteen volcanic islands, including Nuku Hiva, Ua Pou, and Hiva Oa, spanning 1,049 square kilometers across the Pacific Ocean.
Spanish navigator Álvaro de Mendaña discovered these islands in 1595, naming them after his patron, the Marquis of Cañete, before France annexed them in 1842.
The indigenous Marquesans developed intricate art forms through wooden sculptures, traditional tattoo patterns, and tapa cloth production, maintaining their practices across generations.
Four airports serve the islands on Nuku Hiva, Ua Pou, Ua Huka, and Hiva Oa, connecting residents and visitors to other parts of French Polynesia.
The population declined from 78,000 inhabitants in the 18th century to 4,000 in the early 20th century due to diseases introduced through Western contact.
Location: French Polynesia
Elevation above the sea: 1,230 m
Part of: Polynesia
GPS coordinates: -9.00000,-139.50000
Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:36
The Marquesas Islands are characterized by volcanic formations that shape landscapes marked by rocky peaks, ancient calderas, and basalt cliffs. Deep bays like those of Taiohae or the Virgins cut through the coasts, while black sand beaches reflect the archipelago's geological origins. The island interior reveals valleys, waterfalls, and reliefs reaching up to 1200 meters in altitude. Marquesian cultural heritage is evident through preserved archaeological sites in the Taipivai valley, where ceremonial platforms and petroglyphs carved into rock still exist. The Puamau tiki statues, carved from volcanic stone, are among the largest Polynesian sculptures. Museums in Atuona and Ua Huka hold collections that document traditional life, while the Gauguin Cultural Center and the Jacques Brel Space trace the careers of these two artists who spent their final days in the archipelago. The Taiohae Cathedral blends European architecture with local sculpted motifs, illustrating the cultural exchanges that have shaped the islands' history.
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Haraiki
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Notre Dame Cathedral
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Temetiu
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Lagon Bleu
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