Travel Information >> French Polynesia
>> Tahiti Island
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Tahiti Island
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TAHITI (Tah-hee-tee) - 17°32'S 149°34'W
The island of Tahiti is the largest and most well known of all the islands of French Polynesia. The total land area of the island is about 1,045 square kilometers. Tahiti also has the largest population level with about 135,000 inhabitants.
The capitol city of Papeete (Pah-pay-ay-tay), is located on the northwest coast and is the governmental center of French Polynesia. About 70,000 people live in the city and the suburbs of Pirae (Pee-rah-ay), Faa'a (Fah-ah-ah), and Arue (Ah-roo-ay). The international airport is located in the village of Faa'a, which is just south of Papeete.
Tahiti is shaped almost like the number 8 turned nearly upside down. The larger portion of the island, which is to the northwest, is referred to as Tahiti Nui (Noo-ee). The smaller portion to the southeast is Tahiti Iti (Ee-tee). There is a road that goes all the way around Tahiti Nui and is about 117 km long.
The city of Papeete is alot like any other big European city. It almost seems as though it doesn't belong in the tropic paradise that surrounds it.
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