Two Groups Islands

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Coordinates: 18°08′S 142°15′W / -18.133, -142.25

NASA picture of the Two Groups Islands.
NASA picture of the Two Groups Islands.

The Two Groups Islands (îles Deux Groupes) is a minor subgroup of the Tuamotus in French Polynesia. It is formed by the atolls of Marokau and Ravahere.

Marokau lies to the north and Ravahere to the south. The two atolls are separated by a 2 km wide sound.

[edit] History

These two neighboring atolls were discovered by Louis Antoine de Bougainville in 1768. It was James Cook, however, who named them "Two Groups" the following year. He described Marokau and Revahere as a "chain of islands linked by reefs".

[edit] Administration

Administratively the Two Groups Islands belong to the commune of Hikueru, which consists of the atolls of Hikueru, Marokau, Ravahere, Reitoru and Tekokota.

[edit] References