Austral Islands

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The Austral Islands (French: Îles Australes or Archipel des Australes) are the southernmost group of islands in French Polynesia. Geographically, the Austral Islands consist of two separate archipelagos. From northwest to southeast they are:

The "Tubuai Islands" (French: Îles Tubuaï), named for one of the main islands. It consists of:
* Îles Maria ([21°48′00″S, 154°41′00″W]) in the northwest
* Rimatara ([22°38′25″S, 152°50′16″W]),
* Rurutu ([22°29′04″S, 151°20′03″W]),
* Tubuai ([23°23′00″S, 149°27′00″W]),
* Raevavae or Raivavae ([23°52′00″S, 147°40′00″W]).
The "Bass Islands" (French: Îles Bass), is comprised of :
* the main island of Rapa ([27°35′00″S, 144°20′00″W]),
* the small but inhabited Marotiri island ([27°55′00″S, 143°26′00″W]) in the southeast.

The islands of Maria and Marotiri are not suitable for sustained habitation. Several of the islands have uninhabited islets or rocks off their coastlines.

In administrative terms, the Austral Islands (including the Bass Islands) constitute an administrative subdivision, the Austral Islands (la subdivision administrative des (Îles) Australes), one of French Polynesia's five administrative subdivisions (subdivision administratives). Geographically, the administrative subdivision of the Austral Islands (la subdivision administrative des (Îles) Australes) is identical in its electoral boundaries with the Austral Islands (circonscription des Îles Australes), one of French Polynesia's six electoral districts (circonsriptions électorales) for the Assembly of French Polynesia. (See also Politics of French Polynesia).

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