Page 248 - French Polynesia

Marquesas Islands

T he Marquesas are among the most remote islands in the volcanic peaks that reach up to 3,000 feet over the sea level from
world and are the farthest islands from any continental mass the ocean deepness, these being mountains which are always cov-
on Earth. The archipelago consists in 12 islands, six of which are ered by the densest foliage to be found in the whole Pacific. Nuku
presently uninhabited. The 7,000 dwellers from the Marquesas are Hiva is the second largest island in the entire territory, after Tahiti.
spread between the remaining six islands, of which the biggest are With the exception of Motu One, all the islands of the Marquesas
Nuku Hiva, in the northern set, and Hiva Oa in the southern one. are of volcanic origin.
These islands are defined by the unbelievable landscape of sharp