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Geography Of The Cook Islands
The Cook Islands can be divided into two groups: the Southern Cook Islands and the Northern Cook Islands. The country is located in Oceania, in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand. From December through to March, the Cook Islands are in the path of tropical cyclones, the most notable of which were cyclones Martin (1997) and Percy (2005). Two terrestrial ecoregions lie within the islands' territory: the Central Polynesian tropical moist forests and the Cook Islands tropical moist forests. Islands and reefs Southern Cook Islands *Aitutaki Aitutaki, also traditionally known as Araura and Utataki, is the second most-populated island in the Cook Islands, after Rarotonga. It is an "almost atoll", with fifteen islets in a lagoon adjacent to the main island. Total land area is , and the ... *Atiu *Mangaia *Manuae (Cook Islands), Manuae *Mauke *Mitiaro *Palmerston Island *Rarotonga (capital) *Takutea Northern Cook Islands *Manihiki *Nassau ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mauke
Mauke (Ma'uke also Akatokamanava) is an island of the Cook Islands archipelago, lying in the central-southern Pacific Ocean. Part of the Nga-pu-Toru, it is northeast of Rarotonga. Geography Mauke is a raised coral atoll, with a central volcanic plateau surrounded by a jagged fossilised coral ''makatea'' which extends up to one mile inland. A narrow layer of swamps lies between the ''makatea'' and the plateau. The entire island is surrounded by a fringing reef, pierced by six passages, and sits atop an extinct volcano rising from the ocean floor. The volcanic soil in the island's center is relatively fertile, so it is called "The Garden of the Islands". The ''makatea'' is honeycombed with caves, including the Vaitango Cave, Moti Cave and Motuanga Cave. History According to oral tradition, Mauke was discovered by Uke, and the island was named "Ma'uke" – "the land of Uke" – after him. Uke's descents then went on to settle Atiu. Another legend states a son of Ruatapu was ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Winslow Reef, Cook Islands
Winslow Reef is a submerged coral reef of the southern Cook Islands, located northwest of Rarotonga Rarotonga is the largest and most populous of the Cook Islands. The island is volcanic, with an area of , and is home to almost 75% of the country's population, with 10,898 of a total population of 15,040. The Parliament of the Cook Islands, Coo ..., at . It is a shallow platform reef. No major expeditions to explore Winslow Reef have taken place. Literature World Atlas of Coral Reefs, by Mark D. Spalding, Corinna Ravilious, Edmund P. Green, University Presses of California, September 2001, , References Reefs of the Cook Islands {{CookIslands-geo-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Geography Of The Cook Islands
The Cook Islands can be divided into two groups: the Southern Cook Islands and the Northern Cook Islands. The country is located in Oceania, in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand. From December through to March, the Cook Islands are in the path of tropical cyclones, the most notable of which were cyclones Martin (1997) and Percy (2005). Two terrestrial ecoregions lie within the islands' territory: the Central Polynesian tropical moist forests and the Cook Islands tropical moist forests. Islands and reefs Southern Cook Islands *Aitutaki Aitutaki, also traditionally known as Araura and Utataki, is the second most-populated island in the Cook Islands, after Rarotonga. It is an "almost atoll", with fifteen islets in a lagoon adjacent to the main island. Total land area is , and the ... *Atiu *Mangaia *Manuae (Cook Islands), Manuae *Mauke *Mitiaro *Palmerston Island *Rarotonga (capital) *Takutea Northern Cook Islands *Manihiki *Nassau ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tema Reef
Tema Reef, also called Tima Reef, is a submerged coral reef in the northern island group of the Cook Islands, southeast of Pukapuka coral atoll. No coral or rock shows above water, but the sea breaks heavily over the reef. Tema Reef measures about , covering a shallow but submerged area of . History Legend has it that Tima, an Aitutakian warrior sailed to Nassau, but was chased away by Ngalewu, a chief from Pukapuka. On his return to Aitutaki Aitutaki, also traditionally known as Araura and Utataki, is the second most-populated island in the Cook Islands, after Rarotonga. It is an "almost atoll", with fifteen islets in a lagoon adjacent to the main island. Total land area is , and the ... he passed the reef nearby and named it ''Te Toka-O-Tima'', the Stone of Tima The reef was sighted by Commodore John Byron on June 21, 1765. Captain William Williams of the missionary ship ''John Williams'' sighted the reef on May 15, 1864. It was again examined by in 1880. References ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Suwarrow
200px, Map of Cook Islands with Suwarrow near the middle Suwarrow (also called Suvorov, Suvarou, or Suvarov) is an island in the northern group of the Cook Islands in the south Pacific Ocean. It is about south of the equator and north-northwest of the capital island of Rarotonga. Geography 200px, Anchorage Island Suwarrow is a roughly quadrilateral-shaped coral atoll, in circumference, with over 20 small islets (motu) surrounding a central lagoon . Cyclones often create storm surges which sweep over the atoll since its small component of land is extremely low-lying. Table of Islets History Although Suwarrow was inhabited by Polynesians during prehistory it was uninhabited when discovered by the Russian-American Company ship ''Suvorov'', which reportedly followed clouds of birds to the atoll on 17 September 1814. (The ship was named after Russian general Alexander Suvorov, who appears as "Suwarrow" in Lord Byron's epic poem ''Don Juan'' and also in Alaric Alexander Wa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rakahanga
Rakahanga is part of the Cook Islands, situated in the central-southern Pacific Ocean. The unspoilt atoll is from the Cook Islands' capital, Rarotonga, and lies south of the equator. Its nearest neighbour is Manihiki which is just away. Rakahanga's area is . Its highest point is approximately 5 metres above sea level. The population was 83 in the 2016 Census of Population & Dwellings, with a density ratio of 32 people per square kilometer. Since 2014 Rakahanga's electricity has been 100% solar generated. The Rakahanga-Manihiki language differs from Cook Islands Maori. Geography There are four main islands and seven motus or islets in the Rakahanga lagoon. The northern island is divided into three: Tetukono in the north and northeast, Tetaha Kiraro in the west, and Paerangi in the southwest; while the southern island is Rakahanga. The motus are: on the east, Te Motu o Umurua, Akaro, Motu Ngangie, Huananui, Motu Mahuta and Motu Okakara; while on the southwest si ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pukapuka
Pukapuka, formerly Danger Island, is a coral atoll in the Northern Cook Islands, northern group of the Cook Islands in the Pacific Ocean. It is one of the most remote islands of the Cook Islands, situated about northwest of Rarotonga. On this small island, an ancient culture and distinct language have been maintained over many centuries. The population of Pukapuka is around 400 people. Etymology The traditional name for the atoll is ("The Head of the Rock"), The modern name Pukapuka (sometimes written as Bukabuka) originally applied to the main island of the atoll, and is of uncertain etymology. In modern times, the main island is often called Wale ("Home"). Pukapuka has been given various names by European explorers. Pedro Fernandes de Queirós sighted an island in 1595, likely Pukapuka, and called this San Bernardo. On 21 June 1665 John Byron sighted Pukapuka, calling it Islands of Danger, as he was unable to land due to high surf. A version of this name, Danger Isla ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Penrhyn Atoll
Penrhyn (also called Tongareva, Māngarongaro, Hararanga, and Te Pitaka) is an atoll in the northern group of the Cook Islands in the south Pacific Ocean. The northernmost island in the group, it is located at north-north-east of the capital island of Rarotonga, 9 degrees south of the equator. Its nearest neighbours are Rakahanga and Manihiki, approximately to the southwest. Once one of the most heavily populated atolls, it was almost completely depopulated by Peruvian slavers in 1864. Geography Penrhyn is a roughly circular coral atoll with a circumference of approximately , enclosing a lagoon with an area of . The atoll is atop the highest submarine volcano in the Cook Islands, rising from the ocean floor. The atoll is low-lying, with a maximum elevation of less than . The total land area is . The atoll rim consists of 18 major islets. Clockwise, from the northwest, these are: * Tokerau * Painko * Ruahara * Takuua * Veseru * Tuirai * Pokerekere Islet * Kavea * Tema ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nassau (Cook Islands)
Nassau is an island in the northern group of the Cook Islands. It is approximately north of the capital island of Rarotonga and from Pukapuka coral atoll. Lacking an airstrip, it is accessible only by boat. It is named after a 19th-century whaling ship. Its indigenous name, ''Te Nuku-o-Ngalewu'', means "Land of Ngalewu" after the Pukapukan who was put in charge of it. Geography Located south of Pukapuka, Nassau is just above sea level, with an oval sandy cay on a coral reef foundation and is surrounded by a narrow reef flat. It is covered with palms, and is the only island of the Northern Group without a lagoon. The surrounding reef is wide on all but the north side where it's narrower. The village is located in the north-west. Inland there are rich taro swamps and fruit groves, and offshore there is good fishing. It has a population of 78, according to the 2016 census. Nassau is governed by the Pukapuka Island Council. The Nassau Island Committee advises the Pukapuka ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Manihiki
250px, Map of Manihiki Atoll Manihiki is an atoll in the northern group of the Cook Islands known informally as the "Island of Pearls". It is located in the Northern Cook Island chain, approximately north of the capital island of Rarotonga, making it one of the most remote inhabitations in the Pacific Ocean. Its name has two possible meanings: It is believed that the original name of the island was Manuhiki, or Manuhikitanga inspired by the aboriginal discoverers, ''Manu'' coming from the word Rua Manu (a kind of canoe) and ''Hiki'' meaning ''ashore'', so the literal translation would be ''canoe carried ashore''. The second interpretation is that the original discoverers were from Manihi, an island in Tuamotus, so the name of the island would mean ''Little Manihi''. Geography Manihiki is a roughly triangular-shaped coral atoll, consisting of approximately 43 islets (''motu'') surrounding a deep, nine kilometer wide lagoon, which is almost completely enclosed by the surroun ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Takutea
Takutea is a small uninhabited island in the Cook Islands, north-west of Atiu. Administratively, the island is considered part of Atiu, the closest island. It is owned equally by all inhabitants of Atiu and not allocated to one specific village or district of Atiu. Geography Takutea is an oval island roughly long and 3/4 of a mile across. It consists entirely of sand, with a maximum elevation of . The island is surrounded by a narrow reef. History Takutea has never been permanently inhabited. It was originally called ''Areuna'', but was renamed ''Taka-ku-tea'' ("my white ku") by the explorer Mariri after he caught a white ''ku'' (Sargocentron diadema, squirrelfish) there. The island was also known as ''Enua-iti'' ("Small Island"). Takutea was visited by the people of Atiu, who collected seabirds and coconuts there and regarded it as tribal land. When Captain James Cook sighted the island on 4 April 1777, and some crew members went ashore, they found some huts, but no eviden ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
