View· Ua Pou· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs

Ua Pou Basalt Spires (Poumaka and Oave)

9° 22.1′ S · 140° 5.3′ W

A dozen phonolite needles over 1,000 m high give Ua Pou the snaggle-toothed skyline you can see from far offshore. Mont Oave, at 1,203-1,230 m, is the highest point in the Marquesas, and Poumaka is the two-headed spire.

TuamotusMarquesas

Practical

Coordinate is the OpenStreetMap viewpoint 'Vue sur les pitons' on the cross-island road. OpenStreetMap places Poumaka (979 m) at about 9°23.5'S / 140°04.9'W and Oave at about 9°23.5'S / 140°04.7'W. Wikipedia gives Oave as 1,203 m; French Wikipedia and Tahiti Tourisme give 1,230 m. The summits are usually in cloud; Moon Rebel's advice is to photograph them the moment they are all clear, because it could be a while before you see them again. Guided Poumaka hike: see the separate entry.

Best for

The defining view of Ua Pou

Nearby