French Polynesia (Polynésie française), officially the Collectivity of French Polynesia, is an overseas collectivity of the French Republic and its sole overseas country. It is composed of 118 geographically dispersed islands and atolls stretching over an expanse of more than 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) in the South Pacific Ocean.
Following the Great Polynesian Migration, European explorers visited the islands of French Polynesia on several occasions. Traders and whaling ships also visited. In 1842, the French took over the islands and established a French protectorate they called Établissements français d’Océanie (EFO) (French Establishments in Oceania).
In 1946, the EFO became an overseas territory under the constitution of the French Fourth Republic, and Polynesians were granted the right to vote through citizenship. In 1957, the EFO were renamed French Polynesia. In 1983 French Polynesia became a member of the Pacific Community, a regional development organization. Since 28 March 2003, French Polynesia has been an overseas collectivity of the French Republic and on 27 February 2004, an administrative autonomy.
French Polynesia is divided into five groups of islands:
- Society Islands (including Tahiti)
- Tuamotu Archipelago
- Gambier Islands
- Marquesas Islands
- Austral Islands.
Although not an integral part of its territory, Clipperton Island was administered from French Polynesia until 2007.
- France & French Colony Stamps
- French Colonies Stamp Group
- French Stamps – Timbres Français
- Stamps of the French Colonies
- Stamp Thing – France and Colonies
Websites
