Marquesas Exhibit: Island Map

Polynesian Triangle Map

LOCATION:  Part of French Polynesia, the Marquesas are a group of 16 volcanic Islands near the equator, half way between South America and Australia in the central South Pacific, and about 1500 km from Tahiti.

AREA:  492 square miles. Only six of the 16 islands are habitable. The largest island, Nuku Hiva, is 107 square miles.

POPULATION:  Under 10,000

DISCOVERED:  In 1595, Alvaro De Mendaña of Spain discovered the islands. Captain James Cook visited in 1774. Paul Gauguin made these islands famous by spending his last years in the Marquesas. He is buried on the island Hiva Oa.

GOVERNMENT:  The island is now part of the iles du Vent circonscription ("circumscription") within the self-governing overseas territory of French Polynesia. It has been under French rule since 1842.

LANGUAGES:  French and Tahitian (official), and Marquesan

For more information:
Marquesas facts