Cook Islands - Aitutaki (6)

Aitutaki - jewel of the Cook Islands. An island of unsurpassed natural beauty.

Sent by Kimiora from Aitutaki, Cook Islands.

Cook Islands - Aitutaki (5)

Aitutaki. A slice of Heaven in the Cook Islands.

Sent by Kimiora from Aitutaki, Cook Islands.

Cook Islands - Aitutaki (4)

LAGOON WALK, AITUTAKI,COOK ISLANDS
White sandy beaches and crystal clear water near One Foot Island, Aitutaki,Cook Islands.

Sent by Kimiora from Aitutaki, Cook Islands.

Cook Islands - Aitutaki (3)

EVENING, AITUTAKI LAGOON, COOK ISLANDS
The delicate evening light, reflected in the calm waters of the lagoon,lend an air of tranquillity to the day's end. This is the time for a quiet evening stroll or perhaps just to sit on the beach and view a canoe gliding by.

Sent by Kimiora from Aitutaki, Cook Islands.

Cook Islands - Aitutaki (2)

SUNSET, AITUTAKI, COOK ISLANDS
Some of the most lasting memories treasured by the visitor to the Cook Islands are the brilliant tropical sunsets outlining the coastal coconut palms.

Sent by Kimiora from Aitutaki, Cook Islands.

Cook Islands - Aitutaki (1)

Cooling shade and colourful kayaks at O'otu Beach, Aitutaki.

Sent by Kimiora from Aitutaki, Cook Islands.

Aitutaki, also traditionally known as Araura, Ararau and Utataki, is one of the Cook Islands, north of Rarotonga. It has a population of approximately 2,000. Aitutaki is the second most visited island of the Cook Islands. The main village is Arutanga (Arutunga) on the west side.

Aitutaki is an "almost atoll". It has a maximum elevation of approximately 123 metres with the hill known as Maunga Pu close to its northernmost point. The land area of the atoll is 18.05 km², of which the main island occupies 16.8 km². The Ootu Peninsula, protruding east from the main island in a southerly direction along the eastern rim of the reef, takes up 1.75 km² out of these 16.8 km² for the main island. For the lagoon, area figures between 50 and 74 km² are found. Satellite image measurement suggests that the larger figure also includes the reef flat, which is commonly not considered part of a lagoon.

The barrier reef that forms the basis of Aitutaki is roughly the shape of an equilateral triangle with sides 12 kilometres in length. The southern edge of the triangle is almost totally below the surface of the ocean, and the eastern side is composed of a string of small islands (including Mangere, Akaiami, and Tekopua).

The western side of the atoll contains many of Aitutaki's important features including a boat passage through the barrier reef allowing for anchorage close to shore at Arutanga. Towards the south of the side is a small break in the barrier reef, allowing access for small boats to the lagoon which covers most of the southern part of the triangle. Further to the north is the bulk of the main island. Its fertile volcanic soil provide tropical fruits and vegetables. Two of Aitutaki's 15 islets (motus) are also volcanic. The rest are made of coral.

Aitutaki Airport is located close to the triangle's northern point. There is an area suitable to land flying boats in the southeastern part of the lagoon. (read further)

Cook Islands

Two beautiful little islands lie in the middle of Aitutaki's pristine lagoon. This view of Rapota is from Motu Rakau, where the TV series Survivor and Shipwrecked were both filmed.

Sent by Kimiora from Aitutaki, Cook Islands.

The Cook Islands (Cook Islands Māori: Kūki 'Āirani) is a parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand. It comprises 15 small islands whose total land area is 240 square kilometres (92.7 sq mi). The Cook Islands' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), however, covers 1,800,000 square kilometres (690,000 sq mi) of ocean.

The Cook Islands' defence and foreign affairs are the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook Islands. In recent times, the Cook Islands have adopted an increasingly independent foreign policy. Although Cook Islanders are citizens of New Zealand, they have the status of Cook Islands nationals, which is not given to other New Zealand citizens.

The Cook Islands' main population centres are on the island of Rarotonga (14,153 in 2006), where there is an international airport. There is a much larger population of Cook Islanders in New Zealand, particularly the North Island. In the 2006 census, 58,008 self-identified as being of ethnic Cook Islands Māori descent.

With about 100,000 visitors travelling to the islands in the 2010–11 financial year, tourism is the country's main industry, and the leading element of the economy, far ahead of offshore banking, pearls, and marine and fruit exports. (read further)