Tahiti is one of 118 coral and volcanic islands and atolls that make up French Polynesia, a vast French possession in the Pacific Ocean.
This vast region of the Pacific, which is comparable in size to Western Europe, is still strategically important to France. By conducting atomic tests on the atolls, France was able to maintain the nuclear might required to continue to be one of the world's superpowers.
The Tuamotu archipelago, the Society Islands, the Gambier Islands, the Marquesas Islands, and the Tubuai Islands are the five island groups. The most populated island is Tahiti.
Although French Polynesia has a high standard of living, income inequality and high unemployment persist. The economy's main driver is tourism.
- with capital letters. Papeete.
- Area:. 4,167 sq km.
- Population:. 278,700.
- Languages:. French, Tahitian, Austral, Rapa, Mangareva, and Raivavae.
- the length of life. 77 years for men and 83 for women.
President of France, through a high commissioner, serves as the head of state.
Moetai Brotherson is the leader of French Polynesia.
French Polynesia's new president, Moetai Brotherson, is a member of the pro-independence Tvini Huiraatira, formerly known as the Front de libération de la Polynésie. He was chosen in May 2023.
In interviews conducted after his election, he expressed support for an independence referendum but noted that it might not happen for 10 to 15 years. The first step, according to Brotherson, will be to specify who is qualified to cast a ballot in the referendum.
Each day, there are two newspapers. The Reseau Outre-Mer, a public broadcaster in France that broadcasts internationally, as well as private operators, offer TV and radio services.
There is multichannel TV; the channels include French and international ones.
- The Daily Depeche of Tahiti.
- News website Tahiti Infos.
- Reseau Outre-Mer, a French company, runs Polynesia 1, a public channel.
- Private Tiare FM.
- Private Star FM.
- Privé Radio 1, please.
- There are two channels available on Polynesia 1 - public, which is run by Reseau Outre-Mer in France.
- Government-run Tahiti Nui TV.
significant dates in French Polynesia's history are:.
c. 200BC-300AD. Island chains are explored and settled by Polynesians.
1767. - Samuel Wallis of Britain is the first European explorer to travel to Tahiti.
1768. - Louis Antoine de Bougainville, a French explorer, travels to Tahiti.
1769. - During James Cook's first round-the-world voyage, astronomer Charles Green, naturalist Daniel Solander, and British navigator Joseph Banks all record the transit of Venus from Tahiti.
1797. - Missionaries from the London Missionary Society establish permanent missions among the islands of Polynesia to evangelize Protestantism.
1834. - The arrival of French Catholic missionaries in Tahiti. Queen Pámare IV kicks them out two years later.
1842. - Tahiti becomes a protectorate of France.
1844-47 . - Franco-Tahitian War; the conflict was put an end when Queen Pmare consented to leave exile and return to rule under French protectorate.
1880. In response to German colonization of the Pacific, France declares Tahiti to be a colony and moves to annex the other nearby islands.
1887-97. - The Leeward Islands War, in which the majority of the population opposed French annexation and pro-French factions clashed with it. The rebels are forced into exile after being violently put down.
1946. - The islands become a French overseas territory, and the Polynesians acquire French citizenship.
1957. - The name of the archipelago is changed to French Polynesia.
1962. - France relocates its nuclear testing facility to the Moruroa atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago following Algeria's independence.
1970s. Pro-independence movements are becoming more prevalent in the islands.
1977. - French Polynesia receives a partial internal autonomy grant that is later expanded in 1984.
1995. - Widespread objections to France's decision to resume nuclear testing at the Fangataufa atoll after a three-year pause.
1996 . - France's final nuclear test. The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty will be ratified by France, which will then stop conducting nuclear weapons tests.
2003. - French Polynesia joins France as a full-fledged overseas collectivity.
2014. - The assembly of French Polynesia passes a resolution demanding that France pay nearly $1 billion in damages to the environment as a result of its nuclear weapons tests.
