Windward Islands (Society Islands)

The Windward Islands (French: Îles du Vent) are the eastern group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the southern Pacific Ocean. These islands were also previously named the Georgian Islands in honor of King George III of the United Kingdom.

This article is about the eastern islands of French Polynesia. For the Caribbean island group within the Lesser Antilles, see Windward Islands. For the main islands of Hawaii, see Hawaiian Windward Islands.

Windward Islands

Native name: Îles du Vent
Mo'orea
Geography
Location	Pacific Ocean
Coordinates	17°32′S 149°50′W
Archipelago	Society Islands
Major islands	Tahiti, Moorea, Mehetia, Tetiaroa
Area	1,195 km^2 (461 sq mi)
Highest elevation	2,241 m (7,352 ft)
Highest point	Mont Orohena
Administration
France
Overseas collectivity	French Polynesia
Largest settlement	Papeete (capital) (pop. 131,695 urban)
Demographics
Population	194,623[1] (Aug. 2007 census)
Pop. density	163/km^2 (422/sq mi)

Geography

The archipelago comprises an administrative division (French: subdivision administrative) of French Polynesia, and includes the following islands:

• Tahiti
• Moorea
• Mehetia
• Tetiaroa
• Maiao

The capital of the administrative district is Papeete on the island of Tahiti. Tahiti, Moorea, and Mehetia are high islands. Tetiaroa and Maiao are coral atolls.

Culture

The majority of the population speaks French and Tahitian (co-official with French throughout French Polynesia).

Administrative

Administratively, the Windward Islands form the administrative subdivision of the Windward Islands (subdivision administrative des Îles du Vent), one of French Polynesia's five administrative subdivisions. Geographically, the administrative subdivision of the Windward Islands is identical with the electoral district of the Windward Islands (circonscription des Îles du Vent), one of French Polynesia's 6 electoral districts (circonscriptions électorales) for the Assembly of French Polynesia (see also Politics of French Polynesia).

References

1. Institut Statistique de Polynésie Française (ISPF). "Recensement de la population 2007" (PDF) (in French). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-12-03. Retrieved 2007-12-02.