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Archipelago in French Polynesia
Photo: Makemake at de.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Gambier Islands are a group of small volcanic islands surrounded by coral reefs in the southeast extreme of the Tuamotu Islands archipelago of French Polynesia.
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Its historic neo-Gothic church was built on the eastern side of Rikitea between 1839 and 1848 by missionaries of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. The building measures 48 m by 18 m, and rises to a height of 21 m. It can seat 1200 people, and is thrice the size of Notre Dame Cathedral in Papeete. It is the largest church in the South Pacific. It is constructed of coral limestone and coral lime plaster, imported by raft from quarries at Tauna, Tekava, and Kouaku. The two towers were built in 1847–48. The interior is richly decorated with mother of pearl. The altar has ornamentation of fine pearl oyster engravings of Mother-of-pearls, encased with black pearls.
There are no rental cars. Arrange with your pension to be picked up at the dock (after taking the ferry from the airport on the motu). The island's 27-km (16-mile) circle road can be walked in 4-6 hours.
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