Polynesia

Polynesia Facts and Tidbits
Geography
Polynesia is the largest and internationally the most famous of the three Nesia segments.

Areas
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

New Zealand
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.

Kon-Tiki
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.

Tattoo
That word and the elaborate tattooing art form originated in Polynesia.

The unofficial island continent of Nesia
Divisions
Nesia has three major insular groupings: Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.


Meanings of the three Nesia continent divisions
Greek to English translations:

• Nesia = islands
• Poly = many
• Mela = black
• Micro = small

Therefore:

• Polynesia = many islands
• Melanesia = black islands
• Micronesia = small islands

Size
Together, the three areas cover much of the Pacific Ocean.