Society Islands

Society Islands

Infobox Islands
name = Society Islands


image caption = Tahiti
image size =
locator

native name = Îles de la Société
native name link = French language
nickname =
location = Pacific Ocean
coordinates = coord|17|32|S|149|50|W|type:isle|display=title
archipelago = Society Islands
total islands =
major islands = Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea, Bora Bora, Huahine
area = 1590 km²
highest mount = Mont Orohena
elevation = 2241 m
country = France
country admin divisions title = Overseas collectivity
country admin divisions = French Polynesia
country capital city = Papeete
country largest city = Papeete
country largest city population = 131,695 urban
country leader title =
country leader name =
population = 227,807 fr icon cite web| url=http://www.ispf.pf/(k1aciwf4z0fyap45ghzhgm55)/stat/demo/rp2007/pdfs/poplegales2007.pdf| title=Recensement de la population 2007| author=Institut Statistique de Polynésie Française (ISPF)|format=PDF|accessdate=2007-12-02]
population as of = Aug. 2007 census
density = 143
ethnic groups =
additional info =

The Society Islands (French: "Îles de la Société" or officially "Archipel de la Société") are a group of islands in the south Pacific, administratively part of French Polynesia. The archipelago is generally believed to have been named by Captain James Cook in honor of the Royal Society, sponsor of the first British scientific survey of the islands; however, Cook states in his journal that he called the islands Society "as they lay contiguous to one another" [Horwitz, Tony. Oct. 2003, "Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before", Bloomsbury, ISBN 0-7475-6455-8] .

The islands are divided geographically, politically and administratively into two groups:
*Windward Islands (Îles du Vent) (listed from east to west)
**Mehetia
**Tahiti
**Moorea
**Maiao
**Tetiaroa
*Leeward Islands (Îles Sous-le-Vent)
**Huahine
**Bora Bora
**Raiatea
**Tahaa
**Maupiti
**Tupai
**Mopelia
**Scilly
**Motu One (Bellinghausen)

The islands became a French protectorate in 1843 and a colony in 1880. They have a population of 227,807 inhabitants (as of August 2007 census). They cover a land area of 1,590 km² (614 sq. miles).

References

External links

* [http://earthfromspace.photoglobe.info/spc_society_islands.html Society Islands from Space]



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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Society Islands — [so named (1769) by COOK1 James] group of islands in the South Pacific, constituting a division of French Polynesia: c. 613 sq mi (1,588 sq km); pop. 145,000; chief town, Papeete …   English World dictionary

  • Society Islands —   [sə saɪətɪ aɪləndz], englische Bezeichnung für die Gesellschaftsinseln …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Society Islands — a group of islands in the S Pacific: a part of French Polynesia; largest island, Tahiti. (Excluding minor islands) 100,270; 453 sq. mi. (1173 sq. km). Cap.: Papeete. * * * Archipelago (pop., 1996: 189,522), western French Polynesia. Its chief… …   Universalium

  • Society Islands —    In the Society Islands myth, Roua was the Father of the Stars, Taonoui was the Mother of the Stars.    Their son was Fati, known otherwise as Fadu. This myth differs from other Polynesian stories …   Who’s Who in non-classical mythology

  • Society Islands — Îles de la Société Îles de la Société Carte de la Polynésie française avec les îles de la Société. Géographie Pays …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Society Islands — or French Îles de la Société geographical name islands S Pacific belonging to France capital Papeete (on Tahiti) area 621 square miles (1608 square kilometers), population 162,573 …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Society Islands — noun A group of islands in the South Pacific; part of French Polynesia …   Wiktionary

  • SOCIETY ISLANDS —    (24), an archipelago in the South Pacific, consisting of 13 principal islands and numerous islets, the chief being Tahiti; they are mountainous, and engirdled by belts of flat land as well as coral reefs; have a fertile soil and luxuriant… …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • Society Islands — Soci′ety Is′lands n. pl. geg a group of islands in the S Pacific: a part of French Polynesia; largest island, Tahiti. 142,270; 650 sq. mi. (1683 sq. km) Cap.: Papeete …   From formal English to slang

  • Society Islands — /səsaɪəti ˈaɪləndz/ (say suhsuyuhtee uyluhndz) plural noun a group of islands in the South Pacific, a part of French Polynesia; largest island, Tahiti. 1173 km2 …  

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