Fatu Hiva Marquesas French Polynesia

The French Polynesian Archipelago: the history of its names The Marquesas.

Fáatu Hiva (Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia)

Quote the site of the Presidency of French Polynesia (page no longer online): Fatu Hiva is the southernmost of the Marquesas Islands and is situated at 10º29'S and 10º29'S and 138º39'W. The Fatu Hiva is the remnant of two volcanos, one rising from the other' s caldera, with the burrs of both calderas creating a craggy spinal column, the highest of which is 960 metres (3,150 ft.).

Both crater archs open to the east and contain two coves - Hanavave Bay, also known as the Bay of Virgins, to the east and Omoa Bay to the east. There are several plattforms pointing to old holy places and burial caves in the rocks around Omoa Bay, M. Bastard in Les Marquises (The Marquesas Islands) writes.

In 1595 the Spaniard Mendana came to Omoa Bay and named the Maddalena Isle. He wrote in his novel "Fatu Hiva: It' s a visit to nature," says Heyerdahl of his sojourn on Fatu Hiva and remembers the origin of his theories that Indians from South America were the first humans to establish themselves in what is now French Polynesia.

The small town of Omoa is situated in the southwestern part of Fatu Hiva at the bottom of a beautiful but turbulent cove with a hard acces. Copra, orange, dried banana and tapas are imported from Omoa. Fatu Hiva's non-official Fatu banner, seen at the seat of the Tahiti Football Association and used during the 2006 Marquesas Islands games (poster, painted red with a dark border and the name of the peninsula in the centre in blackface.

The Fatu Hiva -

It is a mystical place and the humans in the shadowy Hanavave River are something unique. Perhaps the most beautiful anchoring place in the Marquesas is the Bay of the Four. The Marquesas have three gendarmerie areas: Hiva Oa, Ua Pou and Nuku Hiva, and it is official that ships coming from abroad should go to one of these isles first.

However, often boots stop first with Fatu Hiva. While in the past the sailors had trouble with the gendarmerie in Hiva Oa, in 2014 Kreuzer reported that the ships stopped without any problem in Fatu Hiva before they went to one of the official harbours - but this can slightly chang.

It is recommended to talk to other vessels that have already left Fatu Hiva before the stop. Hanavave is visited every single working days by the police officer from Omoa to inspect the incoming vessels. French customs searches between the Isles have resulted in several cruise ships being fineed $200 or more for being in Fatu Hiva without first entering Hiva Oa.

Customs patrols and boards ships on a regular basis, but that's more to examine the ships and what you declare on your custom forms on your way in. There' s a small harbour in the NE area of Hanavave cove, sheltered by a large breakwalk. Powerful, gusty breezes pull down the bottom and squalls of up to 50 cts and more have prompted more than a few ships to drop into this rapidly descending dock.

Part of the cove is also covered with flat sandy areas over the rocks, so it is important that you hold on to your anchors.