bora bora

 

  • (Motu is a Tahitian word meaning “small islands.”) Hotel Bora Bora opened in 1961, and nine years later the first over-water bungalows on stilts over the lagoon were built.

  • )[19] In addition to the existing islands of Bora Bora, the artificial island of Motu Marfo has been added in the northeastern corner of the lagoon at one of the many resorts.

  • Vaitape is a large city on the west side of the island and is home to a large part of the island’s population.

  • Precisely, on one of them that is located to the north, the Motu Mute, is where the U.S. Army built an important air base during the Second World War, which has now become
    the airport of Bora-Bora.

  • Most of the tourist destinations are sea-oriented; however, there are also tourist attractions on land, such as World War II cannons.

  • In addition to the existing islets in Bora Bora, there is a new artificial area in the northeast corner of the lagoon on the St. Regis Resort property.

  • Another large Aboriginal ceremonial site is Marae Marotitini, in the north of the main island, right on the beach.

  • Today, the road runs through the area, so the overview of the site, which is quite large, has been lost.

  • It is a barrier reef with only one opening to the ocean: the Teavanui Passage, located west of the main island, which allows most large cargo ships and cruise ships to enter
    the lagoon.

  • Most beaches (and also the numerous hotels) are located in the two large bays between Pointe Paopao and Pointe Matira, in the southwest of the island, as well as in the Motus
    opposite.

  • One of the most beautiful and photographed motus in Polynesia is the Tapu motu, especially before a hurricane carried away part of the tongues of sand at its ends.

  • However, the natural beauty of the island is best explored on foot.

  • The major settlement, Vaitape, is on the western side of the main island, opposite the main channel leading into the lagoon.

  • On the main island, a public bus (Le Truck)[33] travels around the island in about an hour along the ring road.

  • About five kilometers south of Vaitape, directly on the main road, is Bloody Mary’s, a bar and restaurant with its own yacht jetty, frequented by many guests.

  • [7][8] However, the island saw no combat.

  • [29] Numerous pre-Christian relics of the native Polynesians of Bora Bora are still preserved today: remains of 13 ceremonial platforms (marae) – there used to be more than
    forty – and many petroglyphs, which, however, are mostly hidden in inaccessible bushes.

  • However, due to the high tourism population, many natives of Bora Bora have learned to speak English.

  • They must, however, stay in a channel because outside the channel, much of the lagoon water is shallow.

  • The crevices and ridges of the island’s mountains are covered with still little disturbed remnants of the island’s original vegetation.

  • To the east and north of the island, the reef supports a series of islets made up of coral ruins and sand (the motu).

  • All eight of these guns remain in the area to this day.

  • The hike to the top of Mount Pahia,[22] from where, according to legend, the war god Oro descended on a rainbow, leads through orchards, forests, orchid fields and fern-covered
    crevices.

  • (The species of shark living in the island’s lagoon are not considered dangerous to people.

  • [26] Many species of sharks and rays inhabit the strip of water surrounding the island.

  • The above listed native and endemic species were mostly restricted to virgin forest, and the only species that remain common (perhaps even extant) are several subulinids and
    tornatellinids among others, including Orobophana pacifica (a helicinid).

  • Mont Otemanu, Bora Bora Dimensions[edit] Bora Bora is among the smaller of the islands of the Society archipelago: the main island measures only 8 km (5 mi) from north to
    south and 5 km (3 mi) east to west; the total area of Bora Bora, including islets, is less than 39 km2 (15 sq mi).

  • Tuuraapuo Bay separates the main island from two islets of volcanic nature: Toopua and Toopua-iti.

  • Two stone box tombs of the royal family were found in the area of the complex.

  • The city has also become a popular spot for tourism.

  • World War II[edit] During World War II, the United States chose Bora Bora as a South Pacific military supply base, and constructed an oil depot, an airstrip, a seaplane base,
    and defensive fortifications.

  • The guns were set up at strategic points around the island to protect it against potential military attack.

  • [27] Vaitape was founded by British missionary John Muggridge Orsmond (1788-1856) of the London Missionary Society, He came to Bora Bora from Tahiti in 1824 and built first
    a church and then a wharf, roads and houses, as well as a missionary school made of coral rock.

  • It also has around it several motus, which are small elongated islets that usually have some width and vegetation.

  • In the center of the island are the remnants of an extinct volcano, rising to two peaks, Mount Pahia and Mount Otemanu; the highest point is at 727 m (2,385 ft).

  • Archipelago: Society Islands; Area: 30.55 km2 (11.80 sq mi); Highest elevation: 727 m (2385 ft); Highest point: Mount Otemanu; Administration: France; Overseas collectivity:
    French Polynesia; Administrative subdivision: Leeward Islands; Commune: Bora-Bora; Largest settlement: Vaitape; Demographics: Population: 10,605[1] (2017); Pop.

  • Sports In terms of sports, Bora Bora is, along with neighboring Huahine, Raiatea and Tahaa, one of the four islands among which the Hawaiki Nui Va’a,[34] an international
    competition of Polynesian canoes (va’a), is held.

  • When explorer Jacob Roggeveen first landed on the island, he and his crew adopted the name Bora Bora, which has stood ever since.

  • Geology[edit] Bora-Bora is part of a group of volcanic islands[12] linked to the activity of a hazardous area.

  • The World War II airstrip was never enlarged to accommodate large aircraft, but it was nonetheless French Polynesia’s only international airport until 1960, when Faa’a International
    Airport opened next to Papeete, Tahiti.

  • [30] The best preserved ceremonial site is the Marae Fare Opu in Faʻanui Bay, located directly on the beach.

  • Its summit is Mount Otemanu located in the center of the atoll; another summit, Mount Pahia, on the main island, is 661 m (2,169 ft) high.

  • In contrast, the flora of the high, steep mountains, which are difficult to access, remains largely unspoiled.

 

Works Cited

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