Raivavae
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NASA picture of Raivavae island
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Location of Raivavae  | |
| Coordinates: 23°52′09″S 147°39′49″W / 23.869167°S 147.663611°W / -23.869167; -147.663611 | |
| Country | France |
| Overseas collectivity | French Polynesia |
| Subdivision | Austral Islands |
| Area
1
| 17.9 km2 (6.9 sq mi) |
| Population
(2022)[1]
| 900 |
| • Density | 50/km2 (130/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−10:00 |
| INSEE/Postal code |
98739 /98750
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| Elevation | 0–437 m (0–1,434 ft) |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Raivavae (Tahitian: Ra‘ivāvae /ra.ʔi.va:va.e/) is one of the Austral IslandsinFrench Polynesia. Its total land area including offshore islets is 17.9 km2 (6.9 sq mi).[2]: 205 At the 2022 census, it had a population of 900.[1] The island is of volcanic origin, and rises to 437 metres (1,434 ft) elevation at Mont Hiro.[2]: 243
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 of 1774 after his death in Tahiti and was returning to the Viceroyalty of Peru.[3] The main source describing this sighting is that of José Andía y Varela, pilot of the packet boat 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.[4][5][6]
It was annexed by France in 1880.
The islands of Raivavae are administratively within the commune with the same name. Raivavae consists of the following associated communes:[7]
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