Austral Islands
The Austral Islands comprise five high islands :
Raivavae, Rurutu, Tubuai,
Rimatara and Rapa.
There also are two uninhabited low islands : Maria (or Hull) and the Marotiri Rocks (or Bass).
This group is called the Austral Islands because of their location, which gives them the most southern latitude of any islands in French Polynesia.
That puts them on both sides of the Tropic of Capricorn.
The Austral Islands became part of French Oceania in 1880.
Their official census population was 6,563 in 1996. There are very few Europeans and Chinese. People in the Austral Islands are attracted to the big City of Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia, where they regroup in certain neighborhoods, such as the “Quartier Rurutu” at Vaininiore.
The Polynesians living in the Austral Islands were converted to Christianity by Protestant missionaries.
Today they live off their main crops of taro and vegetables, potatoes and coconut palm plantations. But the cooler climate than that of Tahiti has lowered the copra output. The Austral Islands also grow coffee, which is shipped to Tahiti along with market gardening products and various fruits. Lagoon fishing and deep-sea fishing are fairly active.
There also are two uninhabited low islands : Maria (or Hull) and the Marotiri Rocks (or Bass).
This group is called the Austral Islands because of their location, which gives them the most southern latitude of any islands in French Polynesia.
That puts them on both sides of the Tropic of Capricorn.
The Austral Islands became part of French Oceania in 1880.
Their official census population was 6,563 in 1996. There are very few Europeans and Chinese. People in the Austral Islands are attracted to the big City of Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia, where they regroup in certain neighborhoods, such as the “Quartier Rurutu” at Vaininiore.
The Polynesians living in the Austral Islands were converted to Christianity by Protestant missionaries.
Today they live off their main crops of taro and vegetables, potatoes and coconut palm plantations. But the cooler climate than that of Tahiti has lowered the copra output. The Austral Islands also grow coffee, which is shipped to Tahiti along with market gardening products and various fruits. Lagoon fishing and deep-sea fishing are fairly active.
Source : Présidence Tahiti
