The 12 Marquesas Islands are spread over an area of 997 square kilometers (384.9 sq. miles) and each of the islands offers a very similar landscape. These are high islands of volcanic origin, flat in places, dominated by needles and peaks of lava, five of which are taller than 1,000 meters (3,281 ft.). Steep cliffs that are directly exposed to the attacks of ocean swells border the deserted plateaus. The coastal cliffs are interspersed with deep valleys.

The Marquesas Islands have no protective coral reefs or lagoons. That explains why flat coastal surfaces are rare, making it difficult, if not impossible, to build roads along the coasts connecting one valley to another. So road transportation is replaced by the use of boats for traveling between villages, which requires building port facilities for cargo ships. One of the rare exceptions is Taiohae Bay, which offers a safe anchorage for all ships.
This archipelago is divided up into two groups:

• The northern group of Ua Pou, Ua Huka, Eiao and a few reefs surrounding Nuku Hiva
• The southern group of Tahuata and Fatu Hiva, which are dominated by Hiva Oa.