Raivavae ( Tahitian: ''Ra‘ivāvae'' /ra.ʔi.va:va.e/) is one of the

Austral Islands The Austral Islands (french: Îles Australes, officially ''Archipel des Australes;'' ty, Tuha'a Pae) are the southernmost group of islands in French Polynesia, an overseas country of the French Republic in the South Pacific. Geographically ...

in French Polynesia. Its total land area including offshore islets is .Environnement marin des îles Australes
/ref> At the 2017 census, it had a population of 903.Répartition de la population en Polynésie française en 2017
Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie française The island is of volcanic origin, and rises to elevation at Mont Hiro.

History

The first sighting by Europeans was recorded by the Spanish naval officer Tomás Gayangos on board of the frigate ''El Aguila'' on 5 February 1775. Gayangos had taken over the command of the expedition of

Domingo de Bonechea Domingo Bernardo de Bonechea Andonaegui ( eu, Domingo Bonetxea Andonaegi), born on September 21, 1713, in Getaria, Basque Country, Spain, died in Tahiti on January 26, 1775, was a captain in the Spanish Royal Navy and an explorer for the Spanis ...

of 1774 after his death in

Tahiti Tahiti (; Tahitian ; ; previously also known as Otaheite) is the largest island of the Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. It is located in the central part of the Pacific Ocean and the nearest major landmass is Austra ...

and was returning to the

Viceroyalty of Peru The Viceroyalty of Peru ( es, Virreinato del Perú, links=no) was a Spanish imperial provincial administrative district, created in 1542, that originally contained modern-day Peru and most of the Spanish Empire in South America, governed fro ...

. The main source describing this sighting is that of José Andía y Varela, pilot of the

packet boat Packet boats were medium-sized boats designed for domestic mail, passenger, and freight transportation in European countries and in North American rivers and canals, some of them steam driven. They were used extensively during the 18th and 19th ...

''Jupiter'' that accompanied ''El Aguila'' in this return trip. On 6 February, a boat was sent in, and made contact with the inhabitants at the shore edge, but landing was not made. Raivavae was charted as ''Santa Rosa'' by the Spaniards, who recorded as ''Oraibaba'' the name of the island said by the inhabitants.Corney, Bolton Granvill ''The quest and occupation of Tahiti by emissaries of Spain during the years 1772-1776'', London, 1913, Vol I, p.XLVII It was annexed by

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

in 1880.

Administration

The islands of Raivavae are administratively within the commune with the same name. Raivavae consists of the following associated communes:Décret n°72-407 du 17 mai 1972 portant création de communes dans le territoire de la Polynésie française

Légifrance Légifrance is the official website of the French government for the publication of legislation, regulations, and legal information. Access to the site is free. Virtually complete, it presents or refers to all concerned institutions or administrat ...

* Anatonu * Rairua-Mahanatoa * Vaiuru

References

Islands of the Austral Islands Communes of French Polynesia {{FrenchPolynesia-geo-stub

History

Administration

See also

References