Fatu Hiva (the "h" is not pronounced, see name section below) is the southernmost of the Marquesas Islands, in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. With Motu Nao as its closest neighbor, it is also the most isolated of the inhabited islands.

Fatu Hiva is also the title of a book by explorer and archaeologist Thor Heyerdahl, in which he describes his stay on the island in the 1930s.

Name

The correct name of the island in Marquesan is Fatu Iva (without "h"), however the name was incorrectly recorded as Fatu Hiva, probably under the influence of other Marquesan islands containing the element Hiva (Nuku Hiva and Hiva Oa, two island names where the element Hiva, with "aspirated h", is different from the element Iva in Fatu Iva) and also because in French the letter "h" is always silent (not pronounced). The spelling Fatu Hiva has now become official. In English however, contrary to French, this creates a problem as letter "h" in initial position is almost always pronounced. In order to obtain a correct pronunciation of the name, English speakers should not pronounce the "h" of Fatu Hiva (IPA: /fatu iva/).

The island was named Isla Magdalena ("Magdalene Island") by Spanish explorers in the 16th century, a name rarely ever used.

Geography

Rainforest on Fatu-Hiva

The western coastline has two significant bays, Hana Vave (also known as Bay of Virgins or Baie des Vierges) in the north, one of the most picturesque sites in the South Pacific, and the well protected harbor of Omoa near the south. There are several smaller valleys between these two.

The center of the island is a plateau which is covered largely by tall grasses and pandanus trees. To the south of the plateau, running to the south, is a mountain ridge, called Tauauoho, its highest peak, at 1,125 m (3,691 ft.) is the highest point on Fatu Hiva. Proceeding to the north and northwest from the plateau is a mountain ridge called Fa?e One, the highest peak of which is 820 m (2,690 ft.).

Administration

Administratively Fatu Hiva forms the commune (municipality) of Fatu-Hiva, part of the administrative subdivision of the Marquesas Islands. This commune consists solely of the island of Fatu Hiva itself.

The administrative centre of the commune is the settlement of Omoa, on the southwestern side of the island.

Demographics

The 2007 population of Fatu Hiva was 587. The people live primarily in three villages:

• Hana Vave
• Omoa
• Uia

See also

• French Polynesia
• Pacific Islands

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