Topic5 facts
Discover French Polynesia's stunning islands, from Bora Bora to Tahiti. Explore turquoise lagoons, vibrant coral reefs, and luxurious overwater bungalows.
Like many isolated oceanic islands, French Polynesia's native land mammal fauna is extremely limited, consisting solely of various bat species. All other land mammals, such as pigs, dogs, and rats, were introduced by human settlers.
Despite its small landmass, French Polynesia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) covers over 5 million square kilometers of ocean, an area larger than the entire continent of Europe. This vast marine territory is rich in biodiversity.
From 1966 to 1996, France carried out 193 nuclear weapons tests at the Moruroa and Fangataufa atolls in French Polynesia. These tests had significant environmental and health impacts, leading to widespread international condemnation.
While not invented there, the iconic overwater bungalow concept, now a global symbol of luxury travel, gained immense popularity and refinement in French Polynesia, particularly in Bora Bora and Moorea, transforming the tourism landscape.
The warm lagoons of French Polynesia provide ideal conditions for the Pinctada margaritifera oyster, which produces the rare and highly prized Tahitian black pearl. These pearls come in a fascinating array of dark hues, from green to purple.
