Raeffsky Islands

The Raeffsky Islands or Raevski Islands (Îles Raéffsky or Îles Raevski) is a subgroup with just over 3000 people in the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. They are located roughly in the central area of the main Tuamotu atoll cluster. (Latitude: 16° 45' 0 S, Longitude: 144° 13' 60 W.) Named after Nikolay Raevsky, a Russian general of the Napoleonic wars.

Atolls
The Raeffsky Islands include the following atolls:


 * Anaa
 * Faaite
 * Tahanea (uninhabited)
 * Motutunga (uninhabited)
 * Takume
 * Raroia
 * Taenga
 * Nihiru
 * Makemo
 * Katiu
 * Tuanake (uninhabited)
 * Hiti (uninhabited)
 * Tepoto (South), Tepoto Sud (uninhabited)
 * Marutea Nord (uninhabited)
 * Haraiki (uninhabited)
 * Aratika
 * Kauehi
 * Taiaro (private)
 * Raraka

Administration

 * The commune of Anaa consists of 4 atolls: Anaa, Faaite, Tahanea and Motutunga. The total population is of 639 inhabitants according to the 2002 census.
 * The commune of Makemo consists of 11 atolls: Makemo, Takume, Raroia, Taenga, Nihiru, Kaitu, Tuanake, Hiti, Tepoto (South) (Tepoto Sud), Marutea Nord and Haraiki. The total population is of 964 inhabitants according to the 2002 census.
 * The commune of Fakarava consists of 7 atolls in Raeffsky Group: Fakarava, Aratika, Kauehi, Niau, Raraka, Taiaro and Toau. The total population is of 1511 inhabitants.

UNESCO site
The ring-shaped atoll Taiaro provides a rare example of a coral reef with a fully enclosed lagoon. The atoll was officially designated as a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1977.