Tahiti is the largest island in French Polynesia, the South Pacific archipelago. Thisoverseas collectivityof theFrench Republicis sometimes referred to as anoverseas country.The island was formed fromvolcanicactivity and is high and mountainous with surroundingcoral reefs.
Tahiti was originally settled byPolynesiansbetween 300 and 800 CE. They represent about 70% of the island's population with the rest made up ofEuropeans,Chineseand those of mixed heritage.
The island was part of theKingdom of Tahitiuntil itsannexationby France in 1880, when it was proclaimed acolony of France. It was not until 1946 that the indigenousTahitianswere legally authorised to be French citizens.Frenchis the only official language although theTahitian language(Reo Tahiti) is widely spoken.