Marquesas Islands facts for kids

The Marquesas Islands are a group of islands in the pacific ocean. They are a part of French Polynesia. The islands are located south of the Equator, about 1.600 km northeast of Tahiti. The total land area is 1274 km². In 2012, 9264 people lived on the Marquesas Islands.

Rainforest on Fatu Hiva

The Marquesas consist of fourteen bigger islands and a number of smaller ones. They are commonly split into two groups: A northern one with the main islands Nuku Hiva, Ua Pou and Ua Huka, and a southern one, made of Hiva Oa, Tahuata and Fatu Hiva.

The islands are of volcanic origin; there are high mountains and deep valleys on many islands. The climate is hot, with an average temperature of 28 degrees centigrade, and a lot of rainfall. Tropical rainforest grows on many islands,

Images for kids

• 

  Hiva Oa

• 

  Hakaui waterfall, on Nuku Hiva island.

• 

  Basaltic rock formation in Hatiheu, Nuku Hiva island.

• 

  Breadfruit tree on Fatu-Hiva.

• 

  Kaimoko family. Headdress (Peueʻei), 19th century. Porpoise teeth, beads, coir. This woman's headdress was probably made on the island of Ua Pou, where porpoises abounded. In the Marquesan language, ei means "treasure". From the collection of the Brooklyn Museum

• 

  Traditional Marquesan warlord's headgear, ceremonial clothes, insignia, and weapon.

• 

  Marquesans dressed in pareu demonstrating traditional dance, 1909

• 

  Hanavave

• 

  View of Hakahau, Ua Pou, from the sea

• 

  Communes of the Marquesas Islands

• 

  Church of Our Lady of Peace (Église de Notre-Dame-de-Paix), Omoa, Fatu-Hiva

• 

  Cathedral of Our Lady of the Marquesas Islands (Cathédrale Notre-Dame des Îles Marquises), Nuku Hiva

• 

  Loading copra on a boat in the bay of Hane, Ua Huka island.

• 

  P400-class patrol vessel La Tapageuse docked at Hakahau, Ua Pou island.

• 

  Container for tattoo tools, wood, Pua Mau Valley, Atuona, Hiva Oa island.

See also

In Spanish: Islas Marquesas para niños