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

The islands are divided geographically and politically 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