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Tahiti and Moorea Paradise or Possession?

Cultural Geography

Dr. Wright

Learning Objectives

 Polynesia and the Polynesian Triangle

 Micronesia

 Melanesia

 Indonesia

 Nuclear testing in the Pacific

 Enjoy the beauty of these islands

Polynesian Triangle

Pacific Island Regions

• Polynesia – “Many Islands”

• Micronesia – “Small Islands”

• Melanesia – “Islands of Black People”

• Indonesia – “India Islands

Bora Bora

Images of “Paradise”

“Paradise” in the Tuamotus

French nuclear testing

Tuamotu Islands 1950s

U..S. Nuclear testing

Bikini Island, Micronesia

Bikini Island nuke crater

Pacific Islands were

nuked dozens of times

Tahiti

Tahiti Cultural Geography

• French Colony/Possession

– French Navy stations here

– 120,000 people total in Tahiti and Moorea

• Polynesians arrived by boat 5,000 years ago

• Tahitians: native, Demi (mixed), or French in identity

• Sexuality is open despite Catholic church presence

– Mahus are straight me who dress as women

– Raras are gay or bi men who dress as women

• Volcanic islands: lagoons and fringing coral reefs

• Tourism economy is 40% of the total, resorts

• Mutiny on the Bounty story still attracts visitors

Breadfruit Reason for the Bounty’s journey

Captain Bligh vs. Fletcher Christian

English women

Tahitian women

Captain Bligh cast adrift

Original Bounty route

Christian and the mutineers sail to Pitcairn

Bligh and 18 men make it to Timor

Pitcairn Island Remote and tough

Pitcairn Island – population 50

Descendants of Fletcher Christian

• Pitcairn Island

• 2009 – 4 men convicted in English court of

serial sexual abuse of young girls

Tahiti and Moorea

Black tip sharks When you see them, it is safe

Same for White Tip Sharks

Beware the Tiger Shark

Aggressive species

Tiger Shark, Martha’s Vineyard

1,100 pounds

Rays like to play

Stag horn coral

Mahu