Geography
The Austral Islands (French: Îles Australes or Archipel des Australes) are the southernmost group of islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the South Pacific. Geographically, the Austral Islands consist of two separate archipelagos. From northwest to southeast they are:
- The Tubuai Islands (French: Îles Tubuaï), named for one of the main islands. It consists of:
- Îles Maria (21°48′00″S 154°41′00″W / 21.8°S 154.6833333°W / -21.8; -154.6833333) in the northwest, part of Rimatara municipality
- Rimatara (22°38′25″S 152°50′16″W / 22.64028°S 152.83778°W / -22.64028; -152.83778),
- Rurutu (22°29′04″S 151°20′03″W / 22.48444°S 151.33417°W / -22.48444; -151.33417),
- Tubuai (23°23′00″S 149°27′00″W / 23.3833333°S 149.45°W / -23.3833333; -149.45),
- Raivavae or Raevavae (23°52′00″S 147°40′00″W / 23.8666667°S 147.6666667°W / -23.8666667; -147.6666667),
- The Bass Islands (French: Îles Bass) comprise:
- the main island of Rapa Iti (27°35′00″S 144°20′00″W / 27.5833333°S 144.3333333°W / -27.5833333; -144.3333333),
- the small Marotiri island (27°55′00″S 143°26′00″W / 27.9166667°S 143.4333333°W / -27.9166667; -143.4333333) in the southeast, part of Rapa municipality
The islands of Maria and Marotiri are not suitable for sustained habitation. Several of the islands have uninhabited islets or rocks off their coastlines.
In administrative terms, the Austral Islands (including the Bass Islands) constitute an administrative subdivision, the Austral Islands (subdivision administrative des (Îles) Australes), one of French Polynesia's five administrative subdivisions (subdivision administratives). Geographically, the administrative subdivision of the Austral Islands is identical with the constituency of the Austral Islands (circonscription des Îles Australes), one of French Polynesia's six constituencies (circonscriptions électorales) for the Assembly of French Polynesia.
The capital of the Austral Islands administrative subdivision is Tubuai.
Read more about this topic: Austral Islands
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