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Raiatea
 
 
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Somewhat smaller than Tahiti
Tahiti

O Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward Islands group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean....
, Raiatea is the second largest of the Society Islands
Society Islands

The Society Islands are a group of islands in the south Pacific Ocean. They are an administrative part of French Polynesia. The archipelago is generally believed to have been named by Captain James Cook in honor of the Royal Society, the sponsor of the first British scientific survey of the islands; however, Cook states in his journal th...
 in French Polynesia
French Polynesia

French Polynesia is a France overseas collectivity in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory ....
. The proper spelling of the name, rarely used though, in the Tahitian language
Tahitian language

Tahitian, a Tahitic languages, is one of the two official languages of French Polynesia . It is an Eastern Polynesian language closely related to Rarotongan language, Maori language, and Hawaiian language....
 is Ra’iatea, meaning bright sky; Ulieta is an obsolete transcription
Transcription

Transcription may refer to:*Transcription , the conversion of spoken words into written language. Also the conversion of handwriting, or a photograph of text into pure text...
 commonly used in the 19th century.






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Borabora Tahaa Raiatea
Somewhat smaller than Tahiti
Tahiti

O Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward Islands group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean....
, Raiatea is the second largest of the Society Islands
Society Islands

The Society Islands are a group of islands in the south Pacific Ocean. They are an administrative part of French Polynesia. The archipelago is generally believed to have been named by Captain James Cook in honor of the Royal Society, the sponsor of the first British scientific survey of the islands; however, Cook states in his journal th...
 in French Polynesia
French Polynesia

French Polynesia is a France overseas collectivity in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory ....
. The proper spelling of the name, rarely used though, in the Tahitian language
Tahitian language

Tahitian, a Tahitic languages, is one of the two official languages of French Polynesia . It is an Eastern Polynesian language closely related to Rarotongan language, Maori language, and Hawaiian language....
 is Ra’iatea, meaning bright sky; Ulieta is an obsolete transcription
Transcription

Transcription may refer to:*Transcription , the conversion of spoken words into written language. Also the conversion of handwriting, or a photograph of text into pure text...
 commonly used in the 19th century. The chief town on Raiatea is Uturoa
Uturoa

Uturoa is a commune in France of French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. The commune of Uturoa is located on the island of Raiatea, in the French Polynesia#Administrative divisions of the Leeward Islands of which Uturoa is the administrative capital....
, administrative center for the Leeward Islands
Leeward Islands (Society Islands)

The Leeward Islands are part of the Society Islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the Oceania. The archipelago comprises an Administrative divisions of French Polynesia of French Polynesia....
 (French
French language

French is a Romance language spoken around the world by around 80 million people as first language, by 190 million as second language, and by about another 200 million people as an acquired tongue, with significant speakers in 54 countries....
 Îles Sous-le-vent). The islands of Raiatea and Tahaa
Tahaa

Tahaa is an island located among the Society Islands, in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. The islands of Tahaa and neighboring Raiatea are enclosed by the same coral reef, and may once have been a single island....
 are both enclosed by the same coral
Coral

Corals are marine organisms from the class Anthozoa and exist as small sea anemone?like polyps, typically in colonies of many identical individuals....
 reef
Reef

In nautical terminology, a reef is a Rock , bar , or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water .Many reefs result from abiotic processes?deposition of sand, wave erosion planning down rock outcrops, and other natural processes?but the best-known reefs are the coral reefs of tropical waters developed through biotic processes do...
, and may once have been a single island.

Raiatea is both the largest and most populated island in the Leeward Islands, with a land area of 167.7 km² (64.7 sq. miles) and a total population of 12,024 inhabitants at the August 2007 census. The population density is 72 inhabitants per km².

Ra'iatea is widely regarded as the 'center' of Polynesia and it is likely that the organised migrations to Hawaii, Aoteroa (New Zealand) and other parts of East Polynesia started at Ra'iatea. A traditional name for the island is Havai'i fanau fenua (Hawai'i birther of land).

Administratively speaking, the island of Raiatea is divided in three communes (municipalities):

  • Uturoa
    Uturoa

    Uturoa is a commune in France of French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. The commune of Uturoa is located on the island of Raiatea, in the French Polynesia#Administrative divisions of the Leeward Islands of which Uturoa is the administrative capital....
  • Taputapuatea
    Taputapuatea

    Taputapuatea is a commune in France of French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. The commune of Taputapuatea is located on the island of Raiatea, in the French Polynesia#Administrative divisions of the Leeward Islands , themselves part of the Society Islands....
  • Tumaraa
    Tumaraa

    Tumaraa is a commune in France of French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. The commune of Tumaraa is located on the island of Raiatea, in the French Polynesia#Administrative divisions of the Leeward Islands , themselves part of the Society Islands....


These three communes are inside the administrative subdivision
French Polynesia

French Polynesia is a France overseas collectivity in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory ....
 of the Leeward Islands
Leeward Islands (Society Islands)

The Leeward Islands are part of the Society Islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the Oceania. The archipelago comprises an Administrative divisions of French Polynesia of French Polynesia....
.

See also