continent mont orohena
Polynesia ( from " poly " " many " + " nsos " " island ") is a subregion of ___MASK15___ , made up of over 1 , 000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean . The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language family , culture , and beliefs . Historically , they were experienced sailors and used stars to navigate during the night . Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia ; this overseas collectivity of the French Republic is sometimes referred to as an overseas country . The island is located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the central Southern Pacific Ocean , and is divided into two parts : The bigger , northwestern part " Tahiti Nui " and the smaller , southeastern part " Tahiti Iti ". The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous with surrounding coral reefs . The population is 183 , 645 inhabitants ( 2012 census ), making it the most populous island of French Polynesia and accounting for 68 . 5 percent of its total population . The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth ' s oceanic divisions . It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean ( or , depending on definition , to ___MASK7___ ) in the south and is bounded by Asia and ___MASK98___ in the west and the Americas in the east . Mont Orohena is a mountain located in the South Pacific , on the island of Tahiti . With an elevation of 2 , 241 metres ( 7 , 352 ft ) above sea level , it is the highest point of French Polynesia . Mont Orohena is an extinct volcano .