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Rarotonga as seen from the Space Shuttle
info about this image
click image to see enlargement
visit the NASA site below for More Cook Islands
http://nix.nasa.gov
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Don't look for this sign in Rarotonga. It is actually at the lush Polynesian Disney resort in central Florida.
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Rarotonga is the largest of the cook islands.
Rarotonga means 'in the direction of the prevailing wind, south'.
Rarotonga - The Capitol Island of the Cook Islands, is a long extinct volcanic island. It was
last active about 2.3 million years ago. Rarotonga is never likely to be a volcano again. The Black Rock deposit was the last very late stage product of the volcanism on Rarotonga.
Based on evidence collected, archaeologists estimate that there was human life on Rarotonga Island around 5000 years ago.
The interior is mountainous and laden with lush tropical rain forests, thus nearly all the population on Rarotonga is concentrated in coastal areas along the 32 kilometre [20 mile] road [Ara Tapu] follows the coast and circles the island. An older inner road dates back about a thousand years with ancient coral blocks as its foundations. Ara Metua, which runs parallel to the Ara Tapu but further inland is also known as Ara Nui O Toi, the "great road of Toi" the innner road encircling Rarotonga. Toi, is the warrior who constructed parts of this road in 1000AD.
Rarotonga is surrounded by a reef with carefree swimming locations. The highest mountain on the Island of Rarotonga is Te Manga 652 m [2140 feet]
Tumutevarovaro is the traditional name for Rarotonga and it's still used amongst old timers and in plays, legends and contemporary songs.
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February 2001
click image to see enlargement
February 2001
click image to see enlargement
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A view of the Needle (Te Rua Manga), a rock formation with splendid views. The waterfall Papua Waterfall, also known as Wigmore's Waterfall, located at Vaimaanga and the only waterfall on the island, marks one end of the walking trek to the Needle.
There are more pictures of the trek and of the needle on other Rarotonga pages.
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