Nuku Hiva - Description & map
See also :
Map of the Marquesas islands
Map of French Polynesia
330 square km, population: 2,375.
The biggest of the Marquesan islands, the "roof beam"
of the "Great House" -which represents the Marquesan archipelago
in the local mythology- has a mountain range dominated by Mt Tekao
(1,224 meters) that runs the length of the desert lands in the west
where the airport has been built.The center consists of the Toovii
plateau (800 meters) which extends out as a large agricultural region
in pasture, fields and forests. The highly indented coastline features
bays, capes, rocky points and cliffs with villages at the
heads of the bays.
Taiohae, under the imposing shadow of Mt Muake (864 meters),
the administrative capital and seat of the archbishopric, is in
a sheltered harbor location guarded by two rocky islets, the "Sentries"
of the East and the West.
 The
interesting places to see are in the eastern side of the village
: the Piki Vehine or Temehea paepae, adorned
by a number of giant tiki that were made for a recent Marquesas
festival, and the cathedral of Notre-Dame of Marquesas built
with different shaped and colored stones from the six Marquesan
islands. Inside, you can also admire the fine woodcarvings as an
example of Marquesan religious art.
In the other part of the valley, a local artist has carved in wood,
a memorial dedicated to the adventurer and novelist Herman Melville.
Source :
GIE Tahiti Tourisme
http://www.tahiti-tourisme.pf
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