The Wallis and Futuna islands, French Polynesia and New Caledonia may be scattered across the southern rim of the Pacific, separated from France by oceans and continents.

CNN: HE BRITISH FORCES LANDED

France's continuing nuclear tests in the South Pacific have turned the international spotlight, if only briefly, on Tahiti and the other islands in French Polynesia.

CNN: HE BRITISH FORCES LANDED

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

He has cut the telephone lines to the presidency and has started running French Polynesia's affairs from nearby government buildings.

ECONOMIST: Whose turn to be president?

After many adventures and some frighteningly high seas they reached French Polynesia on July 30, skirting close to the isolated Puka Puka atoll.

CNN: The Kon-Tiki: Crossing an ocean on balsa

Hurried tourists keen to experience some of French Polynesia's original soul need look no further than the burst of colour and art that illuminates Papeete every winter.

BBC: Getting in the Tahitian spirit

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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Of course, if you can manage to become crew on a yacht, all the remotest anchorages and untouched motus (low, palm covered islands) of French Polynesia come into reach.

BBC: Travel - Island hopping French Polynesia, without breaking the bank