Who has not dreamed at the mere mention of the name of Tahiti? But what do we really know of this island of French Polynesia?17 ° 31 '12 "S and 149 ° 33' 36" W ... Do not look, these coordinates are those of the island's most mythical of our old planet Earth: Tahiti.Everything has been said on this island like no other. Everything, but mostly anything.
The island of Tahiti and the origins
It is now generally acquired by the scientific community that the settlement of the Polynesian triangle (Hawaii, New Zealand, Easter Island ) took place between the 5th century BC and the 5th century AD.
These amazing and wonderful marine boats travel from Asia, South East.It was around the 3rd century AD they settled on the island of Tahiti , they were the earliest inhabitants.
History of Tahiti from the contact
The first European to sail into the waters of Tahiti is proven Samuel Wallis was the British. It was June 17, 1767 in Matavai Bay.
On April 2, 1768, the French Antoine de Bougainville, who succeeded him at the exact same anchor. It remains only about ten days, but back in the "New Cythera", giving rise to the passage Polynesian myth and that of vahine.
A little later in the 1790s, Tahiti is an ideal stopover for whalers on their way to their hunts. This will be the first true revolution in Tahitian society.
The first missionaries of the London Missionary Society landed at Point Venus March 5, 1797 . This is the second upheaval, perhaps the deepest and most complete, the Polynesians have ever known since their installation on this island.
Tahiti, then the kingdom of Pomare VI is officially annexed to France by Admiral Du Petit-Thouars November 6, 1843.
From 1963 to 1995, became French Polynesia hosts the Pacific Test Centre (PRC) . In other words, the area becomes a laboratory for nuclear bomb so dear to General de Gaulle.
Since 2004, French Polynesia enjoys the status of Overseas Countries (POM), a statute specifically designed for it. The island of Tahiti is the economic and political center.
Geography of the island of Tahiti
By far the largest of all the islands of French Polynesia , Tahiti offers 1045 km ² of land mass is partially protected by a coral reef.
But do not mistake: This area only 150 km ² are occupied and farmed. In fact, a narrow coastal strip which almost around the island.
The rest, all the interior of the island consists of steep mountains with jagged peaks and steep slopes, remnants of volcanoes formed Tahiti.
Thus, Orohena Mount (2241 meters), Mount Aorai (2066 m), Mount Marau (1,493 m) and Diadem (1,321 m) are the highest peaks in all of Polynesia.
Tahiti is made up of one main island (Tahiti Nui *) and a peninsula (Tahiti Iti **) connected by a very narrow isthmus. On the peninsula stands the Mount Ronui reaching 1332 meters. The peninsula is the least populated part of Tahiti.
Tahiti: the city lights
At the 2007 census, about 259,706 inhabitants of French Polynesia, 178,173 lived in Tahiti, nearly 70% of the total population of 118 Polynesian islands ...
Northwest of the island is what is called the urban area. This community gathers around the administrative and political capital is the city of Papeete (26,050 inhabitants) and from the east, the municipalities of Mahina, Arue, Pirae Faa'a and Paea.
These seven communities are home alone over 130 000 people.
Are also found in this urban area's only international airport in Polynesia (Tahiti Faa'a), the only international port capable of accommodating tankers and container ships (Papeete), customs service, all political powers and administrative services as well as most commercial activities of Polynesia.
There is also the only cinemas, concert halls and clubs of the country, which explains why the youth of remote archipelagos have a tendency to settle rather than stay on his home islands.
It is also true that outside of Tahiti, there is little hope of finding a job.
Visit Tahiti
The first contacts with the island of Tahiti are made through the urban area which, it must be confessed, does not want to see more.
No architectural interest and without fee, the town badly maintained all the characteristics of a city of Third World victim of uncontrolled urbanization .
Yet it would be a mistake to stop there. Tahiti cache because many wonders offered to those who take the trouble (and time) outside the box.
If the island's beaches are few and engaging, the wild coastline of the east coast of Tahiti Iti offer beautiful scenery.
Many walks in the mountains or in the countless valleys have plenty to delight the most difficult. And they are rarely emphasized, Tahiti also hides a multitude of historical sites of great interest.
However, it is essential to secure the services of a local guide as the most beautiful places on the island are inaccessible and poorly or not reported.
Dare to sink into the lush valleys, and Tahiti will offer then what she has more wonderful: the freshness of a waterfall surrounded by lush vegetation of fragrances imbued unheard
