How many atolls are in the Cook Islands?
15 islands
The 15 islands and coral atolls of the Cook Islands are scattered over 2 million km² between American Samoa to the west and French Polynesia to the east. Nine of the islands are of volcanic origin and only 13 are inhabited.
Where are the southern Cook Islands?
South Pacific Ocean
The Cook Islands are in the South Pacific Ocean, north-east of New Zealand, between French Polynesia and American Samoa.
What are the Cook Islands famous for?
They’re home to a multicoloured array of hard and soft corals, tropical fish and turtles, making underwater exploration a must-do, whether it’s by swimming, snorkelling or diving. You can also spend the day above the sea, kayaking, sailing or deep-sea fishing.
Is Tonga part of Cook Islands?
The Cook Islands are a combination of 15 islands and atolls located in the middle of the South Pacific with Tonga to the west, and the Society Islands of French Polynesia to the east. The 15 islands are broken up into two groups: The Northern Group: Manihiki, Nassau, Penryhn, Pukapuka, Rakahanga and Suwarrow.
Are there any islands south of the Cook Islands?
Mangaia is the second largest and southernmost island of the Cooks.
Why is it called Cook Islands?
The Cook Islands, named after Capt. James Cook, the British explorer who visited the South Pacific area in the mid-1770s, became a self-governing territory in 1965 and has sought to rename itself several times since.
Where do Cook Islanders originate from?
Polynesia
Cook Islanders are residents of the Cook Islands, which is composed of 15 islands and atolls in Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean. Cook Islands Māori are the indigenous Polynesian people of the Cook Islands, although more Cook Islands Māori currently reside in New Zealand than the Cook Islands.
Who is the most famous person in the Cook Islands?
Famous people from Cook Islands
- Alistair Campbell. Playwright. Alistair Te Ariki Campbell, ONZM was a New Zealand poet, playwright, and novelist.
- Annie Crummer. Pop Artist.
- Stan Wright. Man.
- Henry Puna. Politician.
- Patricia Taea. Olympic athlete.
- Nikorima Te Miha. Footballer.
- Makea Takau Ariki. Deceased Person.
- Tom Davis. Politician.
What are Cook Islanders called?
Cook Islands Maori
The common vernacular is Cook Islands Maori, also called Rarotongan, which is similar to the Maori spoken in New Zealand and Tahiti.
Is Fiji part of the Cook Islands?
The northern archipelago is one of the most remote places in the world where you can completely unwind from daily life. On the other side, Fiji is part of Melanesia and about 2,600 kilometers/ 1,616 miles northeast of New Zealand and away from the Cook Islands.
Is Fiji in Cook Islands?
Just over 2,000km to the west of the Cook Islands lies Fiji, a Melanesian island nation made up of more than 300 islands and 540 islets in the South Pacific. Fiji is a castaway’s dream, renowned for its diving and snorkeling, pristine beaches and welcoming people.
What is the difference between Rarotonga and Aitutaki?
Rarotonga has alot to see and do, more people, is less expensive, has some night life, lovely beaches and friendly people. Aitutaki is all about the lagoon. It is a quiet place with limited accomodations and a lagoon that is absolutely incredible. The azure blue waters here will haunt you for a lifetime.
Is Aitutaki an outer island?
Like many of the outer islands of the Cooks group, Aitutaki is a horizontal world.
Who are the indigenous people of the Cook Islands?
Cook Islanders are indigenous Polynesians. Other than a small number of contract workers, mainly from New Zealand and more recently from Fiji working in the tourism industry, there are no minority groups in the Cook Islands.
Are there big spiders in Cook Islands?
There are no snakes or spiders This vast territory is more than 700,000 square miles, but only 1% of it is actually made up of land.
What language is spoken in Cook Island?
Rarotongan
Pukapukan languageEnglish
Cook Islands/Official languages
Is Rarotonga part of Tonga?
Hence the name Rarotonga, that is Tonga to the West, for it was once located further to the east (68)….13. Rarotonga.
| (1) | 40:46 |
|---|---|
| (43) | 366b:64, 69 |
| (44) | 316:122 |
| (45) | 14:147 |
| (46) | 316:122 |
Are Cook Islanders New Zealand citizens?
About Cook Islands It is self-governing in ‘free association’ with New Zealand. That means that while it administers its own affairs, Cook Islanders are New Zealand citizens who are free to live and work here. More than 80,000 Cook Island Māori live in New Zealand. Find out more about Cook Islands.
Is Rarotonga a volcano?
Rarotonga Island is elliptical in shape, 11 km east-west and 8 km north—south, and represents the upper 650 m of an oceanic volcano which rises 5000 m above the surrounding seafloor.
Can you boat from Rarotonga to Aitutaki?
There’s only one way to get from Rarotonga to Aitutaki and that’s to fly with Air Rarotonga. Unfortunately, their prices are ridiculous and there are currently no ferries.
Can you walk around Aitutaki?
No personal experience about walking all the way around it, but we it’s a fairly easy bike ride (even on a bad single speed bike) from the main town N past the airport to Samade and back. Slight rise from town.
What ethnicity are Cook Islanders?
Ethnic groups and languages With the exception of the inhabitants of isolated Pukapuka, who are of predominantly Samoan and Tongan descent, almost all Cook Islanders have mixed Polynesian ancestry. Intermarriage with European, Chinese, and African settlers was common in the early 19th century.
Where are the Cook Islands?
The Cook Islands are a combination of 15 islands and atolls located in the middle of the South Pacific with Tonga to the west, and the Society Islands of French Polynesia to the east. The 15 islands are broken up into two groups: The Northern Group: Manihiki, Nassau, Penryhn, Pukapuka, Rakahanga and Suwarrow.
How did the Cook Islands respond to the call for service?
The Cook Islands responded to the call for service when World War One began, immediately sending five contingents, close to 500 men, to the war. The island’s young men volunteered at the outbreak of the war to reinforce the Maori Contingents.
Why are the Cook Islands so beautiful?
Along with the stunning coral atoll of Aitutaki (with its blue lagoon and rich marine life), they epitomize the beauty of the Cook Islands and the entire Polynesian group. Being a self-governing island nation, which is in free association with New Zealand, the Cook Islands have no such defined administrative divisions.
How did the Cook Islands become part of New Zealand?
When the British Nationality and New Zealand Citizenship Act 1948 came into effect on 1 January 1949, Cook Islanders who were British subjects automatically gained New Zealand citizenship. The islands remained a New Zealand dependent territory until the New Zealand Government decided to grant them self-governing status.