The Society Islands (French: Îles de la Société or officially Archipel de la Société) are a group of islands in the south Pacific, administratively part of French Polynesia.

The islands are divided geographically, politically and administratively into two groups:

• Windward Islands (Îles du Vent) (listed from east to west)
  • Mehetia
  • Tahiti
  • Moorea
  • Maiao
  • Tetiaroa
• Leeward Islands (Îles Sous-le-Vent)
  • Huahine which at high tide is divided into two islands, Huahine Nui to the north and Huahine Iti to the south
  • Bora Bora
  • Raiatea and Tahaa which are both enclosed by the same coral reef
  • Maupiti
  • Tupai
  • Mopelia
  • Scilly
  • Bellinghausen/Motu One

The islands became a French protectorate in 1843 and a colony in 1880. They have a population of 214,445 inhabitants (as of 2002 census). They cover an area of 1,598 km² (617 sq. miles).

External links

• Society Islands from Space

French Polynesia | Society Islands | Archipelagoes

Headline text

Дружествени острови | Illes de la Societat | Gesellschaftsinseln | Seltsisaared | Islas de la Sociedad | Îles de la Société | איי החברה | Genootschapseilanden | ソシエテ諸島 | Wyspy Towarzystwa | Ilhas da Sociedade | Острова Сообщества | Друштвена острва | Seurasaaret | Товариства (острови)