Tuamotu Archipelago
This is the biggest of the five archipelagoes of French Polynesia. The
Tuamotu Archipelago consists of 76 islands and atolls spread out over 20,000 square kilometers (7,722 sq. miles). Left
to themselves for a long time, many of the atolls were brought back to life through the development of tourism and some
250 Tahiti cultured pearl farms. The keys to the success of both industries are the lagoons, whose ideal conditions are
perfect for scuba diving and the harvesting of pearl oysters and pearls.
The modest homes found in the Tuamotu Archipelago are made charming by their typical whitewashed walls. They are made all the more charming by their special decorations, which include colorful patchwork pillows, cushions and “tifaifai” (quilts and walling hangings) as well as necklaces and many other objects made from shells. It’s never rare to find a family fish park near the house, a real outdoor fish pantry, where beds of many different varieties of lagoon fish grow. Small sharks quickly become the “playmates” of children growing up on these atolls.
The surface of the large lagoons is dotted with small jetties and pearl farm installations, which are often visited during tourist excursions for those curious to discover how Tahiti’s famous cultured pearls are produced.
Remoteness does not necessarily mean isolation or an absence of creature comforts. Solar energy produces electricity and hot water. And these atolls have modern communications with Tahiti and the outside world. But fresh water is a precious commodity, requiring every possible means of collecting rainwater, particularly through the use of water tanks.
Far from bustling cities and towns, the Tuamotu islands and atolls offer their dreamlike lifestyles that appeal to the Robinson Crusoe adventurism that lies within most people. Life in this part of the world is a total change of scenery from the developed islands of French Polynesia. It provides an ideal relationship with the natural elements of the sea, the lagoon and the sky. It’s a place where people can learn to live in another world.
The modest homes found in the Tuamotu Archipelago are made charming by their typical whitewashed walls. They are made all the more charming by their special decorations, which include colorful patchwork pillows, cushions and “tifaifai” (quilts and walling hangings) as well as necklaces and many other objects made from shells. It’s never rare to find a family fish park near the house, a real outdoor fish pantry, where beds of many different varieties of lagoon fish grow. Small sharks quickly become the “playmates” of children growing up on these atolls.
The surface of the large lagoons is dotted with small jetties and pearl farm installations, which are often visited during tourist excursions for those curious to discover how Tahiti’s famous cultured pearls are produced.
Remoteness does not necessarily mean isolation or an absence of creature comforts. Solar energy produces electricity and hot water. And these atolls have modern communications with Tahiti and the outside world. But fresh water is a precious commodity, requiring every possible means of collecting rainwater, particularly through the use of water tanks.
Far from bustling cities and towns, the Tuamotu islands and atolls offer their dreamlike lifestyles that appeal to the Robinson Crusoe adventurism that lies within most people. Life in this part of the world is a total change of scenery from the developed islands of French Polynesia. It provides an ideal relationship with the natural elements of the sea, the lagoon and the sky. It’s a place where people can learn to live in another world.
Source : Présidence Tahiti
