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What makes the reserve unique is the diversity of its lagoons. It features small enclosed lagoons like those of Taiaro and Niau, with hypersaline water in the former and brackish water in the latter. On the other hand, large lagoons open to the ocean, like that of Fakarava, boast impressive passes, including the largest in French Polynesia, which is 1,600 meters wide.

The fauna and flora are remarkable, housing rare, protected, and endemic species, such as the kestrel, or “koteuteu,” a species strictly endemic to the atoll of Niau.

By joining a recognized international network, the municipality and the residents of Fakarava aim to enhance and preserve their rich natural and cultural heritage passed down from their ancestors.

The Taputapuātea Marae was the nerve center of political alliances and spiritual exchanges within the Polynesian Triangle. Chiefs from different islands would gather here for religious ceremonies and to make crucial political decisions.

The marae consists of several stone structures, including ceremonial altars, which reflect the complex religious practices and architectural ingenuity of the ancient Polynesians.

Spread across Polynesia, marae served as places of connection between the world of the living and that of the ancestors and gods. Taputapuātea offers an exceptional testimony to a thousand years of Mā’ohi civilization.

The Marquesas Islands, or Henua Enata in Marquesan, stand out for their jagged ridges, impressive peaks, and cliffs rising steeply above the ocean. These landscapes are unmatched at these tropical latitudes.

The archipelago is a significant center of endemism, home to rare and diverse flora, a variety of iconic marine species, and one of the most diverse seabird assemblages in the South Pacific. Virtually free from human exploitation, the Marquesan waters are among the last wild marine areas in the world.

The archipelago is also famous for its arts, particularly wood carving and tattooing, which are deep expressions of Marquesan cultural identity. The people proudly maintain their ancestral traditions, celebrating them during the Matava’a o te Henua Enana, the Marquesas Festival.

The site also includes archaeological landmarks, ranging from dry stone monumental structures to sculptures and lithic engravings. Notable must-see historical sites include the Kamuihei archaeological site in Nuku Hiva, the Me’ae site in Puamau, and Upeke in Hiva Oa.