
![]()
![]()
Bora Bora
Moorea
Fatu Hiva
Nuku Hiva
Ua Pou
Hawaii Volcanoes
National Park
Na Pali Coast
Waimea Canyon
Easter Island Chile
Aitutaki
Cook Islands
Upolu
Western Samoa
Vava'u
Tonga
Polynesia wonder map
French Polynesia map &
tips
Interesting facts &
tidbits
Polynesia photo
gallery
Gauguin painting gallery
Polynesia home page
Site map
About me and my credentials
About my website
Reader testimonials
Email me your opinion



Polynesia is the largest and internationally the most famous of the three Nesia segments.
Polynesia is more than French Polynesia. It covers a broad Pacific Ocean expanse shared by a number of nations. The seven best-known areas are
American
Samoa
Cook
Islands
Easter
Island
French
Polynesia
Hawaii
Tonga
Western
Samoa
For a perspective view:
Is it Polynesian? Some people say yes, others, no. I'm with the latter group. True, Polynesian islands were settled, populated, and cultured by ancient Maoris from New Zealand. And, 15% of today's New Zealand population is Maori. However, that country lacks the tropical and geological feel of what is generally regarded as Polynesia by travelers.
In 1947, the Norwegian Thor Heyerdahl sailed from South America to Polynesia in his Kon-Tiki reed boat to prove that Polynesia was settled by pre-Columbian South Americans. His theory sank in 1990 when DNA testing proved that the Polynesians' forbearers migrated from Asia.
That word and the elaborate tattooing artform originated in Polynesia.
Nesia has three major insular groupings: Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.

Together, the three areas cover much of the Pacific Ocean.
The three Nesia divisions translate as "many islands", "black islands" and "small islands". Poly (many), mela (black), micro (small), and nesia (islands) are Greek.

sponsored ad

Explore my
candid country, region
and other travel guides
Click links for tips & insights
NATION / REGION |
| CRUISE GUIDES | SPECIAL TOPICS | OTHER TIPS & INSIGHTS |
| ||||
| MORE | ||||
|
| |||
|
|
| ||
|
|
|
|