About the map
I am a retired US National Park Service cartographer who enjoys making maps of beautiful places with spectacular terrain. Mapping Tahiti and Mo‘orea is something that I have wanted to do since visting these islands in 2019. But incomplete elevation data in the island interiors, often obscured by clouds, delayed my plans. That recently changed with the release of new 20-meter elevation data of Tahiti and Mo‘orea, and 100-meter bathymetric data of the surrounding seafloor. So I jumped into the project.
The resulting reference map below highlights three major environmental zones: the ocean bottom from which the volcanoes that became Tahiti and Mo‘orea arose; the narrow coastal strips alive with coral reefs and burgeoning human settlement; and, moving inland, cloud-capped mountain spires.
I hope that you will find the map informative and useful.
February 15, 2025
Get the map: Pick the version best for you
Last update: Version 1.0, February 15, 2025 Change log
Screen viewing and high-quality printing:
RGB JPEG image, 40.2 x 27.9inches, 14,065 x 8,663 pixels, 17.1 MB
Tahiti and Mo‘orea
Reference Map
Additional files for GIS and mapmaking
Georeferenced raster map GeoTIF, 74.2 MB
Terrain art without type GeoTIF, 61.3 MB
Terms of use
This map was made with geospatial data generously provided by others that require attribution. You are welcome to reproduce, distribute, or modify the map on condition that the sources are cited.
By downloading and using this map you agree that the map author (Tom Patterson) is not legally responsible for any errors that the map may contain. You are solely responsible for all problems that may arise from reuse of the map and distribution to third parties. Tom Patterson does not necessarily endorse the individuals or organizations that may use the map, nor does he endorse their positions on issues.
This tourist map is for general reference only. Do not use it for marine navigation or hiking in remote areas.
The map measures 102 x 71 centimeters (40.2 x 27.9 inches) at 1:100,000-scale.
Going mobile
Point your phone's camera here to get the map.
Locate yourself while traveling with the free Avenza Maps app for iOS and Android. It works when you are off the grid using the built-in GPS 0n your phone or tablet.
Modifying the map:
Layered Adobe Illustrator CC file with MAPublisher georeferencing, includes terrain art, 186 MB
Data sources
Coastline, streams, and roads - Open Street Map.
Reefs – 1:50,000 French topographic maps, Bing satellite images, and Open Street Map.
Place names – Open Street Map and 1:50,000 French topographic maps.
Places of interest - Open Street Map, Google Maps, and tahititourisme.com
Locator Maps – Natural Earth
Tahiti DEM – Shom. Coastal topo-bathymetric DEM of Tahiti - MSL
Mo‘orea DEM – Shom. Coastal topo-bathymetric DEM of Moorea - MSL
Bathymetry – Shom. Bathymetric DEM for the coasts of Tahiti et Moorea - MSL
Built-up areas – Open Street Map (merged land use and building data).
