Wondermondo 🢖 World 🢖 Wonders of Australia and Oceania 🢖 Wonders of Polynesia 🢖 Wonders of French Polynesia
Territory
Wonders of French Polynesia
Highlights
French Polynesia includes a huge number of very diverse islands. Many islands here are low-lying atolls entirely covered by waves during the storms but many are adorned with steep mountains covered with tropical forest and rising up to 2,241 m high (Mount Orohena in Tahiti).
The most amazing wonders of French Polynesia are:
- Diverse natural landmarks. The manifold natural heritage includes unique ecosystems – both above the sea level and below it.
- Archaeological heritage. Notable are the numerous ceremonial complexes – marae and me’ae, stone sculptures (tiki), petroglyphs, and cave settlements.
French Polynesia is an overseas country of France. It is divided into 5 administrative subdivisions:
Map with the described wonders
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Top 25 wonders of French Polynesia
Geological wonders
Tapueahu Canyon (Grand Canyon of Nuku Hiva)
Marquesas Islands
Very impressive canyon.
Teahupo’o reef break
Windward Islands
A break in the reef, where are formed especially large, glassy blue, smooth waves. These are some of the heaviest waves in the world – a huge water mass is broken and may fall on the head of an unwary surfer. Waves are beloved by surfers but are very dangerous.
Vaipo Canyon
Marquesas Islands
A beautiful, narrow chasm surrounded by almost vertical cliff pinnacles rising more than 550 m high.
Toarutu Cave (Mouth of Dragon)
Austral Islands
An amazing cave with numerous columns – it resembles a mouth of a giant dragon. It formed at the times when the sea level was 10 m higher than now.
Mataiva lagoon
Tuamotu-Gambier Islands
The lagoon of Mataiva atoll is almost totally surrounded by the land. The 5.3 by 10 km large lagoon is divided into some 70 smaller parts by the ridges of decaying coral. At the bottom of each smaller basin are rich deposits of phosphates.
Eiao cliffs
Marquesas Islands
Up to 440 m tall seaside cliffs.
Ana Torea Caves
Tuamotu-Gambier Islands
In the impressive Moumu cliffs have formed numerous caves. There are numerous legends about these caves – about treasure left by Spaniards, about ghosts. Caves served for the burial of local noblemen before the coming of the Spanish. Many caves are adorned with stalactites and stalagmites.
Ana Vairua’uri
Austral Islands
An underground stream with a lake that is up to 7 m deep. In the stream are living enormous shrimps. Several sinkholes have formed along the route of the stream. A legend about an octopus who lived here and killed horses.
Octopus Grotto
Leeward Islands
A grotto under the sea level, 120 m long. Located in 30 – 50 m depth. The ceiling is adorned with stalactites that formed when the grotto was above sea level. Numerous fishes live in the cave.
Taupe’e Cave (Maperevaru)
Austral Islands
A beautiful cave with stalactites, stalagmites, gours, cave pearls, and other cave formations.
Biological wonders
Mount Purau rainforest
Austral Islands
Remnant of a unique montane rain forest with a huge number of endemic species of plants (89 species) and animals.
Temehani Ute Ute Plateau
Leeward Islands
A small plateau with 26 species of plants that grow only here. One of these plants is the famous Tiare Apetahi (Apetahia raiateensis) with beautiful, large flowers.
Niau tropical forest – feo
Tuamotu-Gambier Islands
One of the rare areas covered with a specific ecosystem – Tuamotu tropical moist forest. The whole island – atoll is some 20 km² large. The island has a green, hypersaline lagoon. The only habitat of the very rare Tuamotu kingfisher (Todiramphus gambieri).
Archaeological wonders
Marae Arahurahu
Windward Islands
One of the first marae to be restored in 1954. Contains a stone statue.
Me’ae Iipona
Marquesas Islands
A ceremonial site with the largest prehistoric stone statues (tiki) in French Polynesia, up to 2.6 m high. Restored in 1991.
Tuauru funeral caves
Windward Islands
Funeral caves in a remote valley of Tahiti. Caves are intact, and filled with valuable historical artifacts. One flute has been carried away and sold, thus desecrating the cave.
Marae Taputapuatea
Leeward Islands
A unique complex of marae, one of the important sacred complexes of Polynesians. Established around 1000 AD and expanded significantly since then, used as a learning center for priests and navigators. Includes multiple stone structures and sculptures. This unique archaeological monument is partly restored.
Maeva
Leeward Islands
An abandoned royal settlement. It contains the largest concentration of megalithic structures in Polynesia except for Easter Island. In total there are known some 200 stone structures – marae, dwellings, agricultural structures, stone fish traps, and fortification walls. Includes Marae Oavaura, Marae Vaiotaha, and other structures.
Mata’ire’a Rahi
Leeward Islands
The most important marae in Huahine, the former place of royal ceremonies. Located on the summit of a hill. Constructed sometime around 1450 – 1500.
Ana’o Tetea
Tuamotu-Gambier Islands
A cave – a royal burial site and site of legends. Unfortunately, the burial was desecrated by foreign tourists in 2005.
Contemporary cultural wonders
Robert Wan Pearl Museum
Windward Islands
This is the world’s only museum that is dedicated to pearls, their history, traditions, and collection.
Paul Gauguin Museum
Windward Islands
This art museum is dedicated to the life and works of Paul Gauguin and Constance Gordon-Cumming. In the garden are located two tiki – sacred stone statues from Ra’ivavae island.
Tepoto treasure
Tuamotu-Gambier Islands
This small atoll is a possible location where has been hidden a treasure. This legendary treasure was looted in Pisco church, Peru in the 19th century. One treasure seeker has found a cache of medallions from South America but it is unknown whether something more has been found.
Recommended books
Moon Tahiti (Moon Handbooks)
South Pacific expert David Stanley knows the best way to vacation in Tahiti, from browsing the Papeete market to snorkeling off the island of Moorea. This guide includes unique trip ideas like The Best of French Polynesia and Underwater in the Tuamotu Islands. Complete with details on taking lagoon tours and jeep safaris, lounging in Polynesian spas, and partaking in lavish seafood buffets, Moon Tahiti gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience.
Frommer’s Tahiti and French Polynesia
You’ll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer’s. It’s like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go–they’ve done the legwork for you, and they’re not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. No other series offers candid reviews of so many hotels and restaurants in all price ranges.
