Tahitian Islands

French Polynesia has long been among the world's more romantic destinations. Made up of 4,200 square km (1,622 square mi) of land spread over five archipelagoes that cover nearly 2.5 million square km (965,255 square mi) of South Pacific Ocean, Polynesie francaise became a protectorate of France in 1847 and a colony in 1880. Today it is an “overseas country” or pays d'outre-mer of France and has a population of nearly 250,000 that is 83% Polynesian. The Society Islands are divided into the Windward Islands, including the high islands of Tahiti and Moorea. The Leeward Islands include Bora Bora, Huahine (which at low tide is two islands), and tiny Taha'a. The Tuamotu chain is made up of 78 low-lying atolls. The largest atoll in the Tuamotus—and the second largest in the world after Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands—is Rangiroa.