The Bass Islands consist primarily of Rapa

Rapa Iti

Rapa or Rapa Iti as it is sometimes called in more recent years , is the largest and only inhabited island of the Bass Islands in French Polynesia. An older name for the island is Oparo Its area is 40 km2 with a population of almost 500 and a max elevation of 650 m...

 (27°35′00"S 144°20′00"W) and Marotiri

Marotiri (Austral Islands)

Marotiri is a group of four uninhabited volcanic rocks protruding from the sea , forming the southeastern end of the Austral Islands of French Polynesia. Marotiri is located at . The closest island is Rapa Iti, 75 km further northwest, but separated from it by an ocean depth of more than 1,500 meters...

 (27°55′00"S 143°26′00"W). They are usually considered to be the southernmost of the Austral Islands

Austral Islands

The Austral Islands are the southernmost group of islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the South Pacific. Geographically, they consist of two separate archipelagos, namely in the northwest the Tubuai Islands consisting of the Îles Maria, Rimatara, Rurutu, Tubuai...

, although this classification is one of geographic and political expediency more so than because of similarities between them and the rest of the Austral Islands. The Bass Islands, lying several degrees outside the tropics, are the southernmost islands in French Polynesia

French Polynesia

French Polynesia is an overseas country of the French Republic . It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory...

.

Geologically, the Bass Islands are distinguished from the Austral Islands in that their vulcanism

Vulcanism

Vulcanism may refer to* Volcanism or volcanic activity.* Plutonism, a scientific theory of the Earth....

 appears to be much more recent.

Culturally, the Bass Islands appear to have been colonized about the same time as Tahiti

Tahiti

Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...

 and the Marquesas

Marquesas Islands

The Marquesas Islands enana and Te Fenua `Enata , both meaning "The Land of Men") are a group of volcanic islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the southern Pacific Ocean. The Marquesas are located at 9° 00S, 139° 30W...

, and the culture and language (Rapan

Rapan language

Rapan is the language of Rapa, in the Austral Islands of French Polynesia. It is classified as an East Central Polynesian language, along with the Marquesic and Tahitic languages....

) appear to have diverged about the same time as well, indicating that they developed in relative isolation almost from the time of first settlement.

See also

• French overseas departments and territories
• Administrative divisions of France
  Administrative divisions of France
  The administrative divisions of France are concerned with the institutional and territorial organization of French territory. There are many administrative divisions, which may have political , electoral , or administrative objectives.- Metropolitan France :As of January 1, 2008, metropolitan...
  
  
• Islands controlled by France in the Indian and Pacific oceans
  Islands controlled by France in the Indian and Pacific oceans
  -Indian Ocean Islands:The following islands are in the Indian Ocean*Réunion - *Mayotte - *French Southern and Antarctic Lands **Amsterdam Island **Crozet Islands **Kerguelen Islands...
  
  
• List of islands of France