Papeete Waterfront

Papeete is the capital of French Polynesia, and is located on the island of Tahiti, which is part of the Society Islands, in French Polynesia. Papeete waterfront, 2003 I took this photo on 5/23/03 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Papeete waterfront, 2003 I took this photo on 5/23/03 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Tahiti is the largest island in French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean, at 17°40′ S 149°30′ W. The island had a population of 169,674 inhabitants at the 2002 census. ... The Society Islands (ÃŽles de la Société in French) are a group of islands in the south Pacific, administratively part of French Polynesia. ...

The total population of the commune of Papeete proper is 26,181 inhabitants (as of 2002 census), while the whole urban area has a total population of 127,635 inhabitants (2002 census). The commune (in French: commune, word appeared in the 12th century, from Medieval Latin communia, gathering of people sharing a common life, from Latin communis, things held in common) is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. ...

The area that now constitutes Papeete was first settled by the British missionary William Crook in 1818. Queen Pomare IV moved her court to Papeete and made it her capital in the late 1820s, and the town grew into a major regional shipping and transportation center. Papeete was retained as Tahiti's capital after France took control of the Tahitian Islands and made them a protectorate in 1842. Half of Papeete was destroyed by a major fire in 1884. A major cyclone caused extensive damage to the city in 1906.

Herman Melville was imprisoned in Papeete in 1842; his experiences there became the basis for the novel Omoo. Paul Gauguin journeyed to Papeete in 1891 and, except for a two-year period in 1893-1895, never returned to France. Robert Louis Stevenson and Henry Adams also spent time in Papeete in 1891. Herman Melville Herman Melville (August 1, 1819 – September 28, 1891) was an American novelist, essayist, and poet. ... Omoo was Herman Melvilles sequel to Typee, and, as such, was also nonfiction. ... Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin (June 7, 1848 - May 9, 1903) was a leading Post-Impressionist painter. ... Robert Louis Stevenson Robert Louis (Balfour) Stevenson (November 13, 1850 – December 3, 1894), was a novelist, poet, and travel writer. ... Henry Brooks Adams (February 16, 1838 - March 27, 1918) was a U.S. historian, journalist and novelist. ...

Papeete's international airport, Faaa International Airport, was completed and opened in 1962. Faaa International Airport (IATA airport code: PPT) is located near the Faaa district of Papeete, Tahiti. ...

In September 1995, after the government of Jacques Chirac went ahead with plans to test a nuclear device off the shores of Moruroa Atoll, there was heavy rioting for three days in Papeete. The international airport was nearly destroyed by rioters, and 40 people were injured in the general chaos. (Similar rioting occurred after another French nuclear test in the same area in 1987). 1995 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jacques René Chirac (born November 29, 1932) is a French politician. ... Moruroa (Mururura, Mururoa) (21°50′ S 138°55′ W.) is an atoll in which forms part of the Tuamoto archipelago in French Polynesia in the southern Pacific Ocean. ... 1987 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Related Article

• Windward Islands (Society Islands)

The Windward Islands (French Îles du Vent) are the eastern group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. ...

External links

• Finding Tahiti
• Map of French Polynesia