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fiogf49gjkf0d GENERAL DESCRIPTION. -------------------- FRENCH POLYNESIA IS MADE UP OF FIVE DISTINCT SETS OF ISLANDS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC: THE SOCIETY ISLANDS, THE MARQUESAS, THE TUAMOTU ISLANDS, THE GAMBIER ISLANDS AND THE AUSTRAL ISLANDS. THEY ARE COMPOSED OF EITHER ISLANDS OF VOLCANIC ORIGIN, WHICH CAN BE MOUNTAINOUS ISLANDS OR LOW LYING LIMESTONE CORAL ATOLLS. MOST OF THE ISLANDS ARE PROTECTED BY ENCIRCLING BARRIER REEFS. TAHITI, FORMED OF TWO ANCIENT VOLCANIC CONES, IS THE LARGEST OF THE 115 ISLANDS AND ATOLLS THAT COMPRISE FRENCH POLYNESIA. THE 1,042 SQ KM OF TAHITI'S SURFACE AREA CONSISTS OF MOUNTAIN PEAKS REACHING OVER 2,235M INTO A LAY OF WISPY CLOUDS; DEEP GREEN VALLEYS COVERED WITH RAIN FORESTS AND SOFT FERNS; WATERFALLS CASCADING INTO COOL RIVERS AND STREAMS; FLAT COASTAL LAND, WITH FIELDS OF TARO AND FLOWERS.
ALSO A HIGH ISLAND AND IS ENCIRCLED WITH VERY WHITE CORAL SAND BEACHES. BORA-BORA IS OF SPECTACULAR BEAUTY WITH CRAGGY, SCULPTED, VOLCANIC PEAKS DROPPING SHARPLY INTO THE LAGOON BELOW. MOST OF THE ISLANDS ARE PROTECTED BY ENCIRCLING BARRIER REEFS.
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