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Marquesas Islands facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Marquesas Karte
Map of the Marquesas Islands

The Marquesas Islands are a group of beautiful islands found in the huge Pacific Ocean. They are part of a larger area called French Polynesia. These islands are located south of the Equator, which is an imaginary line around the middle of the Earth. They are about 1,600 kilometers (about 994 miles) northeast of Tahiti.

The total land area of the Marquesas Islands is about 1,274 square kilometers (492 square miles). In 2012, around 9,264 people called these islands home.

Fatuhiva-Veg
Rainforest on Fatu Hiva

The Marquesas are made up of fourteen larger islands and many smaller ones. They are usually divided into two main groups:

  • A northern group, which includes the main islands of Nuku Hiva, Ua Pou, and Ua Huka.
  • A southern group, which includes Hiva Oa, Tahuata, and Fatu Hiva.

These islands were formed by volcanoes long ago. Because of this, they have tall mountains and deep valleys. The weather here is warm, with an average temperature of 28 degrees Celsius. There is also a lot of rain, which helps tropical rainforests grow on many of the islands.

Images for kids

  • Marquises 9631a

    Hakaui waterfall, on Nuku Hiva island.

  • Hatiheu Bay, Nuku Hiva (French Polynesia)

    Basaltic rock formation in Hatiheu, Nuku Hiva island.

  • Kaimoko Family. Headdress (Peue 'Ei), 19th century.

    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

  • Chef de guerre marquisien-Musée d'histoire naturelle et d'ethnographie de Colmar

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

  • Pareu haka

    Marquesans dressed in pareu demonstrating traditional dance, 1909

  • FatuIva Hanavave Port 20061111

    Hanavave

  • Hakahau

    View of Hakahau, Ua Pou, from the sea

  • Marquesas-administrative

    Communes of the Marquesas Islands

  • FatuIva Omoa Church 20061111

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

  • Nuku Hiva - Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Taiohae - 20061109

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

  • Baie de Hane - Chargement copra (2)

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

  • Ua Pou - Tapageuse

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

  • Container for tattoo tools, Pua Mau Valley, Marquesas Islands, Bishop Museum, B.05280

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

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Islas Marquesas para niños

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