The Raeffsky Islands or Raevski Islands (French: Îles Raéffsky or Îles Raevski) is a subgroup with just over 3000 people in the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. They are located roughly in the central area of the main Tuamotu atoll cluster. (Latitude: 16° 45' 0 S, Longitude: 144° 13' 60 W)
The Raeffsky Islands include the following atolls:
AnaaFaaiteTahanea (uninhabited)Motutunga (uninhabited)TakumeRaroiaTaengaNihiruMakemoKatiuTuanake (uninhabited)Hiti (uninhabited)Tepoto (South), Tepoto Sud (uninhabited)Marutea Nord (uninhabited)Haraiki (uninhabited)AratikaKauehiTaiaro (private)Raraka (uninhabited)The commune of Anaa consists of 4 atolls: Anaa, Faaite, Tahanea and Motutunga. The total population is of 639 inhabitants according to the 2002 census.The commune of Makemo consists of 11 atolls: Makemo, Takume, Raroia, Taenga, Nihiru, Kaitu, Tuanake, Hiti, Tepoto (South) (Tepoto Sud), Marutea Nord and Haraiki. The total population is of 964 inhabitants according to the 2002 census.The commune of Fakarava consists of 7 atolls in Raeffsky Group: Fakarava, Aratika, Kauehi, Niau, Raraka, Taiaro and Toau. The total population is of 1511 inhabitants.The ring-shaped atoll Taiaro provides a rare example of a coral reef with a fully enclosed lagoon. The atoll was officially designated as a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1977.
