Place details
Place nameFrench Polynesia
Other namesTerritoire de la Polynésia Française, Polynésie française, Territory of French Polynesia, Französisch-Polynesien, Polinesia Francesa, Polinésia Francesa, Frans Polynesië, PYF, PF, ISO258, FP00, Établissements français de l'Océanie
Latitude-15
Longitude-140
SourceThesaurus of Geographic Names
Overview
Consists of 5 scattered island groups, mostly volcanic, mountainous & ringed by coral reefs; settled by Polynesians; explored by Bougainville 1766; colonized by French missionaries late 18th cen., all islands under French control by late 19th cen.; official language is French, though local languages are widely spoken.