Glossy brochures focus on ultra-swish resorts, but French Polynesia actually has a pretty wide range of accommodation options.

BBC: Tahiti and French Polynesia on a budget

French Polynesia is made up of some 200 islands -- the Society, Tuamotu, Gambier, Austral and Marquesas groups -- spread over 4.1 million square kilometres of Pacific Ocean: an area roughly eight times the size of France.

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The South Pacific island chain declared a 1.9 million-sq-km sanctuary, contiguous with one established last week by neighbouring French Polynesia.

BBC: Cook Islands' shark sanctuary creates world's largest

Brought into being by irresponsible nuclear tests in French Polynesia, Godzilla heads for New York in search of a really first-rate fish restaurant.

NEWYORKER: Godzilla

Last week's move by French Polynesia overtook the Marshall Islands' area, outlined in late 2011, as the world's largest - and the Cook Island's claim adds 40% more area to that title.

BBC: Cook Islands' shark sanctuary creates world's largest