Geography
French Polynesia Quiz
Tahiti, Bora Bora, and 118 islands across 5 archipelagos — how well do you know French Polynesia?
Tahiti, Bora Bora, and 118 islands across 5 archipelagos — how well do you know French Polynesia?
Between 1966 and 1996, France conducted 193 nuclear weapons tests on the atolls of Mururoa and Fangataufa — a legacy that still shapes French Polynesia's politics and health debates today. This 50-question quiz explores the stunning archipelago beyond the postcard beaches, from ancient Polynesian navigation to Marlon Brando's private island.
Each round presents 10 randomized questions from a pool of 50, with four multiple-choice options and instant feedback after every answer. Your final score comes with a performance tier and shareable results.
You'll discover how ancient Polynesians navigated thousands of miles of open ocean, why Paul Gauguin abandoned Paris for Tahiti, the devastating impact of nuclear testing, how the word 'tattoo' comes from Tahitian, and why Teahupo'o is considered the most dangerous surf break on Earth.
French Polynesia is a French overseas collectivity in the South Pacific Ocean, roughly halfway between Australia and South America. It consists of 118 islands spread across 5 archipelagos — the Society Islands (including Tahiti and Bora Bora), the Tuamotus, the Marquesas, the Gambier Islands, and the Austral Islands — spanning an ocean area as large as Western Europe.
Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) was a French Post-Impressionist painter who famously left his banking career and family in Paris to live in Tahiti in 1891, and later the Marquesas Islands. His vibrant paintings of Polynesian life became iconic works of art, though his personal conduct — including relationships with very young Tahitian girls — has been increasingly criticized.
After Algerian independence in 1962 forced France to abandon its Saharan test sites, France relocated its nuclear testing program to the remote atolls of Mururoa and Fangataufa in French Polynesia. Between 1966 and 1996, France conducted 193 nuclear tests there (41 atmospheric, 152 underground), causing lasting environmental and health concerns among Polynesian communities.
Last updated: April 2026