- Hiva Oa
Infobox Island of French Polynesia
name = Hiva Oa
country =France French Polynesia
archipelago =Marquesas Islands
region =South Pacific Ocean
area = 316
coastline =
peakname =Temetiu
peakheight = 1,213
population = 1,986
date_population = (2007)
density = 6.3Hiva Oa is the second largest island in the
Marquesas Islands , inFrench Polynesia , an overseas territory ofFrance in thePacific Ocean . It is the largest island of the Southern Marquesas group. Its name means “long ridgepole” in South Marquesan. The island is likely so named because of its long central ridge.Administratively, Hiva Oa is part of the commune (municipality) of
Hiva-Oa , itself in the administrative subdivision of theMarquesas Islands .Atuona , on the south side of Hiva Oa island, is the administrative centre of the commune. Atuona was formerly the seat of government for all of the Marquesas Islands, but it has been replaced byTaiohae onNuku Hiva island.The island was the final home of French painter
Paul Gauguin and Belgian singerJacques Brel , both of whom are buried in Calvary Cemetery, overlooking Atuona.In late pre-European times, the island was nearly evenly divided into two
province s—Nuku in the west, andPepane in the east.ee also
*
French Polynesia
*Haava External links
* [http://www.tahiti-nui.com/island/hiva_oa/default.asp Hiva Oa information, with map, from Tahiti Nui Travel]
* [http://chez.mana.pf/~hoata/communique.htm Gauguin Cultural Center in Atuona]
* [http://www.eldritchpress.org/nhb/pampas.htm Hiva Oa in 1842, Adventures of a man in Chapter XVII]Template group
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