The Tuamotu Archipelago consists of two ridges of low atolls, administratively the Tuamotu-Gambier division is divided into 17 communes and has about 78 atolls, the most popular among tourists:
- Manihi
- Rangiroa
- and Tikehau.
The archipelago was discovered by Pedro Kyros in 1606 (the island of Puka Puka was discovered in 1521 by Magellan). Subsequently, many islands were discovered and described by Russian seafarers, FF Bellingshausen, MP Lazarev, OE Kotsebu. On the map of the world, Tuamotu has a second name: the Rossian Islands, and many of the atolls are named after the Russians: Kutuzov and Rumyantsev. - $