Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French
Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific
Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia.
The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous with
surrounding coral reefs. The population is 178,133 (2007 census), making it the
most populous island of French Polynesia and accounting for 68.6% of the
group's total population. Tahiti was formerly known as
Otaheite.
The capital, Papeete, is located on the northwest coast with the only
international
