Ta‘a ‘Oa is the South Marquesan name of a wide bay on the southern coast of Hiva ‘Oa

Hiva Oa

Hiva Oa is the second largest island in the Marquesas Islands, in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. It is the largest island of the Southern Marquesas group. According to local religion, the gods created the islands as their home. Therefore all islands have...

 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...

. The bay is widely known in English

English language

English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

 as the Bay of Traitors, and in French

French language

French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...

 as Baie des Traitres.

The highest point on Hiva ‘Oa, Temetiu

Temetiu

Temetiu is the South Marquesan name for the highest peak of the mountain ridge that rises above the western end of Ta'a Oa in southwestern Hiva ‘Oa....

, rises majestically above the western end of the bay.

Atuona

Atuona

Atuona, located on Atuona Bay on the southern side of Hiva Oa island, is the administrative centre of the commune of Hiva-Oa. Atuona was the capital of all the Marquesas Islands but it has been replaced by Taiohae ....

, the administrative center of the southern Marquesas, is located on a small inlet, Atuona Bay

Atuona Bay

Atuona Bay is a small inlet on the north shore of Ta‘a ‘Oa , on the southern coast of Hiva ‘Oa...

 (called Vevau in Marquesan), on the north shore of Ta‘a ‘Oa. The western extensions of Ta'a Oa are separated from Atuona Bay by a small rock

Islet

An islet is a very small island.- Types :As suggested by its origin as islette, an Old French diminutive of "isle", use of the term implies small size, but little attention is given to drawing an upper limit on its applicability....

 called Hanakee

Hanakee

Hanakee is the name of a small rocky islet lying off the southern coast of Hiva Oa, separating Atuona Bay from Ta‘a Oa.The island's only vegetation is some small shrubs and grasses.-See also:*Marquesas Islands*French Polynesia...

. One of the best harbor

Harbor

A harbor or harbour , or haven, is a place where ships, boats, and barges can seek shelter from stormy weather, or else are stored for future use. Harbors can be natural or artificial...

s in the Marquesas Islands, Taha Uku

Taha Uku

Taha Uku is a small bay on the north shore of Ta‘a ‘Oa on the southern coast of Hiva ‘Oa.The bay is provides one of the best anchorages in the whole of the Marquesas. It lies just to the east of Atuona, the administrative center of the southern Marquesas...

, is also located on the northern shore, near the eastern end of the bay, separated from Atuona Bay by a headland called Feki.

See also

• 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...
  
  
• Marquesas Islands
  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...