Skip to content
Archipelago

    Tubuai

    23°22′S 149°28′W

    Tupuaʻi (French: Tubuai [tubwaj]) is the main island of the Austral Island group, located 640 km (400 mi) south of Tahiti. In addition to Tubuai, the group of islands include Rimatara, Rurutu, Raivavae, Rapa and the uninhabited Îles Maria.

    Photograph of the island of Tubuai (French Polynesia) taken from a speedboat near from motu Mitiha.
    Photograph of the island of Tubuai (French Polynesia) taken from a speedboat near from motu Mitiha.

    Jérémie Silvestro (If you can improve this photo development, ask me the RAW.) / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Terrain

    23°22′S 149°28′W

    Terrain exaggerated for relief. Drag to look around.

    Overview

    Tupuaʻi (French: Tubuai [tubwaj]) is the main island of the Austral Island group, located 640 km (400 mi) south of Tahiti. In addition to Tubuai, the group of islands include Rimatara, Rurutu, Raivavae, Rapa and the uninhabited Îles Maria. They are part of the Austral Islands in the far southwest of French Polynesia in the south Pacific Ocean. Tubuai sustains a population of 2,185 people on 45 km2 (18 sq. mi.) of land. Due to its southerly position, Tubuai has notably cooler weather than Tahiti. The island is ringed by a lagoon formed by an encircling coral reef. A break in the reef that allows ships to pass is on the island's north side. Tubuai has two lava domes, with its highest point, Mt. Taita'a, being 422 meters (1385 feet). Six or seven islets or motus lie along the reef rim that encircles the island. These were described in the late 1700s as having an abundance of toa trees (Casuarina equisetifolia), which the indigenous peoples used in house building and to make war clubs and spears due to the wood's density. The islanders speak the Tupuaʻi dialect of the Austral language, which has absorbed significant Tahitian vocabulary.

    From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Chart

    Nearest islands

    Also in Austral Islands

    • Rapa Iti

      37.9 km²▲ 650 m

      Major islands

    • Rurutu

      33.2 km²▲ 398 m

      Major islands

    • Raivavae

      14.9 km²▲ 437 m

      Major islands

    • Rimatara

      8.3 km²▲ 70 m

      Major islands

    • Mano Rahi

      0.25 km²▲ 10 m

      Minor islands

    • Haha

      0.16 km²▲ 18 m

      Minor islands

    Also in Austral Islands

    Also in Polynesia

    • New Zealand

      268,021 km²

      Major islands

    • Samoa

      2,842 km²

      Minor islands

    • Rangiroa

      1,446 km²▲ 12 m

      Minor islands

    • Fakarava

      1,112 km²

      Minor islands

    • Tonga

      749 km²

      Minor islands

    • Hao

      720 km²▲ 3 m

      Minor islands

    • Apataki

      706 km²

      Minor islands

    • Makemo

      603 km²

      Minor islands

    Also in Leeward Islands

    • New Zealand

      268,021 km²

      Major islands

    • Samoa

      2,842 km²

      Minor islands

    • Rangiroa

      1,446 km²▲ 12 m

      Minor islands

    • Fakarava

      1,112 km²

      Minor islands

    • Tonga

      749 km²

      Minor islands

    • Hao

      720 km²▲ 3 m

      Minor islands

    • Apataki

      706 km²

      Minor islands

    • Makemo

      603 km²

      Minor islands

    Also in Society Islands

    • New Zealand

      268,021 km²

      Major islands

    • Samoa

      2,842 km²

      Minor islands

    • Rangiroa

      1,446 km²▲ 12 m

      Minor islands

    • Fakarava

      1,112 km²

      Minor islands

    • Tahiti

      1,044 km²▲ 2,241 m

      Minor islands

    • Tonga

      749 km²

      Minor islands

    • Hao

      720 km²▲ 3 m

      Minor islands

    • Apataki

      706 km²

      Minor islands

    Also in Pacific Islands

    • New Guinea

      774,566 km²▲ 4,884 m

      Major islands

    • Japan

      377,974 km²

      Major islands

    • New Zealand

      268,021 km²

      Major islands

    • Honshu

      227,970 km²▲ 3,776 m

      Major islands

    • Luzon

      104,935 km²▲ 2,928 m

      Major islands

    • Mindanao

      93,885 km²▲ 2,954 m

      Major islands

    • Hokkaido

      77,983 km²▲ 2,291 m

      Minor islands

    • Sakhalin

      74,571 km²▲ 1,609 m

      Minor islands

    Sources

    Facts

    • Geometry, areas and high points: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Copernicus GLO-30, via Talus.
    • Talus
    • Wikidata
    • Wikipedia

    Photographs