Fautaua Valley is a

river valley A valley is an elongated low area often running between hills or mountains, which will typically contain a river or stream running from one end to the other. Most valleys are formed by erosion of the land surface by rivers or streams over ...

on the island of

Tahiti Tahiti (; Tahitian ; ; previously also known as Otaheite) is the largest island of the Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. It is located in the central part of the Pacific Ocean and the nearest major landmass is Austr ...

, in

French Polynesia )Territorial motto: ( en, "Great Tahiti of the Golden Haze") , anthem = , song_type = Regional anthem , song = " Ia Ora 'O Tahiti Nui" , image_map = French Polynesia on the globe (French Polynesia centered).svg , map_alt = Location of Frenc ...

. It is located near the capital of

Papeete Papeete (Tahitian language, Tahitian: ''Papeete'', pronounced ) is the capital city of French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of the France, French Republic in the Pacific Ocean. The Communes of France, commune of Papeete is located on the isl ...

. The Fautaua River flows through it, eventually cascading down the mountainside as the Fautaua Falls almost into a shallow bathing pool called Loti Bain. The pool is named for the French writer

Pierre Loti Pierre Loti (; pseudonym of Louis Marie-Julien Viaud ; 14 January 1850 – 10 June 1923) was a French naval officer and novelist, known for his exotic novels and short stories.This article is derived largely from the ''Encyclopædia Britannica El ...

, who lived in the area for some time. It is the 28th-highest waterfall in the world. The falls are also known as Fachoda Falls, after Fort Fachoda, a ruined fort found at the top of the falls. The falls are accessible for

tourists Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tours. The World Tourism Organization defines tourism mo ...

and

hikers Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...

, although the purchase of an access permit is required. The hike is estimated to take anywhere from 3–6 hours, depending on which route one takes. Scientists have studied the flora and fauna of the Fautaua Valley. Examples of

earwig Earwigs make up the insect order Dermaptera. With about 2,000 species in 12 families, they are one of the smaller insect orders. Earwigs have characteristic cerci, a pair of forcep-like pincers on their abdomen, and membranous wings folded ...

species '' Hamaxas nigrorufus'' and '' Chelisoches morio'' were found in the valley in a survey in 1949. Examples of

moss Mosses are small, non-vascular flowerless plants in the taxonomic division Bryophyta (, ) '' sensu stricto''. Bryophyta (''sensu lato'', Schimp. 1879) may also refer to the parent group bryophytes, which comprise liverworts, mosses, and hor ...

es from genus ''

Fissidens ''Fissidens'' is a genus of haplolepideous mosses (Dicranidae) in the family Fissidentaceae. Selected species: * '' Fissidens abbreviatus'' * '' Fissidens acacioides'' * '' Fissidens aciphyllus'' * '' Fissidens acreanus'' * '' Fissidens acutis ...

'' such as '' F. clarkii'', '' F. mangarevensis'', and newly described species '' F. fautauae'' were located in the valley during surveys in 1960.

References

External links

* * * Waterfalls of French Polynesia Rivers of French Polynesia Valleys of French Polynesia Tourist attractions in French Polynesia {{FrenchPolynesia-geo-stub