Photogallery of pictures taken during journeys and expeditions to French Polynesia - Hiva Oa Island.
Hiva Oa is the second largest island in the Marquesas Islands, in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. It is the largest and most fertile island of the southern Marquesas group its total area is 316 km2.
Hiva Oa features steep cliffs abruptly rising from the ocean to a rugged interior spine of volcanic mountains, ridges, and deep, isolated valleys. Unlike most other Polynesian islands near the equator, no fringing coral reefs protect Hiva Oa from the pounding of the ocean and only a few sheltered anchorages and sandy beaches are scattered around the coast.
A few dirt roads traverse the interior and link seacoast villages and settlements.
The outstanding geologic characteristic of Hiva Oa is the collapsed volcano Temetiu. Semi-circular Ta'a Oa bay, also called the Bay of Traitors, is in the crater of the volcano whose walls rise sharply 1,000 metres above the bay. Within Ta'a Oa are Atuona Bay and adjacent Taha Uku which are the best anchorages on the island.
In 2012, the population of Hiva Oa was 2,190, of which 1,845 lived in the commune of Acounda and 345 in the village of Puama'u. The island is famous as the final home of French painter Paul Gauguin and Belgian singer Jacques Brel.
If you have any questions to joureys/expeditions to Hiva Oa Island or any comment to a photogallery use the information form attached below.
