Austral Islands
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{{Infobox Islands
| name = Austral Islands
| image name = Flag of the Austral Islands.svg
| image caption = Flag of the Austral Islands
| image size = 150px
| locator map = Fp-map.png
| native name = Îles Australes
| native name link = French language
| nickname =
| location = [[Pacific Ocean]]
| coordinates =
| archipelago = [[Polynesia]]
| total islands = 7
| major islands = [[Îles Maria]], [[Rimatara]], [[Rapa Iti]], [[Tubuai (Austral Islands)|Tubuai]]
| area = 148 km²
| highest mount =
| elevation =
| country = France
| country admin divisions title = [[Overseas collectivity]]
| country admin divisions = [[French Polynesia]]
| country capital city =
| country largest city = [[Rurutu (Austral Islands)|Rurutu]]
| country largest city population = 2,088
| country leader title =
| country leader name =
| population = 6,310<ref name=census>{{fr icon}} {{cite web| url=http://www.ispf.pf/(k1aciwf4z0fyap45ghzhgm55)/stat/demo/rp2007/pdfs/poplegales2007.pdf| title=Recensement de la population 2007| author=Institut Statistique de Polynésie Française (ISPF)|format=PDF|accessdate=2007-12-02}}</ref>
| population as of = Aug. 2007 census
| density = 43
| ethnic groups =
| additional info =
}}
[[Image:Karta FP Austral isl.PNG|thumb|270 px|Map of the Austral Islands]]
The '''Austral Islands''' ([[French language|French]]: ''Îles Australes'' or ''Archipel des Australes'') are the southernmost group of islands in [[French Polynesia]], an [[overseas collectivity]] of [[France]] in the [[Oceania|South Pacific]]. Geographically, the Austral Islands consist of two separate archipelagos. From northwest to southeast they are:
* The "[[Tubuai Islands]]" ([[French language|French]]: ''Îles Tubuaï''), named for one of the main islands. It consists of:
** [[Îles Maria (Austral Islands)|Îles Maria]] ({{coor dms|21|48|00|S|154|41|00|W|}}) in the northwest, part of Rimatara municipality
** [[Rimatara (Austral Islands)|Rimatara]] ({{coor dms|22|38|25|S|152|50|16|W|}}),
** [[Rurutu (Austral Islands)|Rurutu]] ({{coor dms|22|29|04|S|151|20|03|W|}}),
** [[Tubuai (Austral Islands)|Tubuai]] ({{coor dms|23|23|00|S|149|27|00|W|}}),
** [[Raivavae]] or ''Raevavae'' ({{coor dms|23|52|00|S|147|40|00|W|}}),
* The "[[Bass Islands (French Polynesia)|Bass Islands]]" ([[French language|French]]: ''Îles Bass''), is composed of :
** the main island of [[Rapa Iti|Rapa]] ({{coor dms|27|35|00|S|144|20|00|W|}}),
** the small but inhabited [[Marotiri (Austral Islands)|Marotiri]] island ({{coor dms|27|55|00|S|143|26|00|W|}}) in the southeast, part of Rapa municipality
The islands of [[Maria Islands (Austral Islands)|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 (French Polynesia)|Bass Islands]]) constitute an administrative subdivision, the Austral Islands (''subdivision administrative des (Îles) Australes''), one of [[French Polynesia]]'s five [[Administrative divisions of French Polynesia|administrative subdivisions]] (''subdivision administratives''). Geographically, the administrative subdivision of the Austral Islands is identical with the electoral district of the Austral Islands (''circonscription des Îles Australes''), one of [[French Polynesia]]'s six electoral districts (''circonsriptions électorales'') for the [[Assembly of French Polynesia]].
The capital of the Austral Islands administrative subdivision is [[Tubuai (Austral Islands)|Tubuai]].
==See also==
* [[French overseas departments and territories]]
* [[Administrative divisions of France]]
* [[Islands controlled by France in the Indian and Pacific oceans]]
* [[List of islands of France]]
* [[Politics of French Polynesia]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.polynesie-francaise.gouv.fr/hc/iles-australes/index.asp Official site]
* [http://www.polynesie-francaise.gouv.fr/hc/iles-australes/dossiers.asp Official site, municipalities with maps]
* [http://www.oceandots.com/pacific/tubuai/ Oceandots.com satellite images]
{{Archipelagos of French Polynesia}}
{{Austral Islands}}
{{Polynesia}}
[[Category:Austral Islands| ]]
[[Category:Archipelagoes]]
{{FrenchPolynesia-geo-stub}}
[[bg:Австралски острови]]
[[ca:Illes Australs]]
[[de:Austral-Inseln]]
[[es:Islas Australes]]
[[fr:Îles Australes]]
[[gl:Illas Austrais]]
[[he:איי אוסטרל]]
[[nl:Australeilanden]]
[[pl:Wyspy Tubuai]]
[[pt:Ilhas Austrais]]
[[ty:Tuha’a pae mā (Te ta’amotu nō)]]
[[ru:Тубуаи]]
[[fi:Australsaaret]]
[[sv:Australöarna]]