Marquesas Islands
| Native name: Îles Marquises / Te Fenua ‘Enata / Te Henua Kenana | |
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| Geography | |
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Archipelago | Polynesia |
| Total islands | 15 |
| Major islands | Nuku Hiva, Ua Pu, Ua Huka, Hiva Oa, Fatu Hiva |
| Area | 1,049.3 km2 (405.1 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 1,230 m (4,040 ft) |
| Highest point | Mount Oave (Ua Pu) |
| Administration | |
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France
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| Overseas collectivity | French Polynesia |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 9,264 (Aug. 2012 census) |
| Pop. density | 9 /km2 (23 /sq mi) |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone | |
Coordinates: 9°27′16″S 139°23′20″W / 9.45444°S 139.38889°W
The Marquesas Islands (/mɑːrˈkeɪsəs/; French: Îles Marquises or Archipel des Marquises or Marquises; Marquesan: Te Henua (K)enana (North Marquesan) and Te Fenua `Enata (South Marquesan), both meaning "The Land of Men") are a group of volcanic islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the southern Pacific Ocean. The Marquesas are located at 9° 00S, 139° 30W. The highest point is the peak of Mount Oave (French: Mont Oave) on Ua Pu island at 1,230 m (4,035 ft) above sea level.
Based on 2010 studies, new research suggests that the islands were colonized rapidly in two waves by indigenous colonists from West Polynesia, beginning ~1025-1120AD, leading to development of a "remarkably uniform culture, human biology and language."
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