Gambier Islands

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Gambier Islands

archipelago, French Polynesia

Also known as: Îles Gambier, Mangareva Islands

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Nov 27, 2024 • Article History

French:: Îles Gambier

Also called:: Mangareva Islands

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Gambier Islands, southeasternmost extension of the Tuamotu Archipelago of French Polynesia in the central South Pacific, nearly 1,000 miles (1,600 km) east-southeast of Tahiti. The islands are just north of the Tropic of Capricorn. The principal inhabited group of the Gambiers comprises the volcanic islets Mangareva (Magareva), Taravai, Akamaru, and Aukena. Mangareva, which is 5 miles (8 km) long and encircled by a barrier reef, rises to approximately 1,444 feet (440 meters) in the peaks Duff and Mokoto; Rikitea, the chief village, with St. Michael’s Cathedral (1834–71), is on its eastern side.

Capt. James Wilson of the missionary ship Duff sighted (1797) and named the Mangareva cluster for Adm. James Gambier. Annexed by the French in 1881, the group now forms a part of the Tuamotu-Gambier administrative subdivision of French Polynesia. The inhabitants support themselves with subsistence agriculture and fishing. Pop. (2022) 1,570.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Ethan Teekah.