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Cook Islands
Quick Overview:
Cook Islands vacations, Cook Islands cruises, Cook Islands hotels, romantic Cook Islands resorts, great Cook Islands scuba diving adventures--- The Cook Islands were isolated from major tourist routes for years, they offer visitors untouched beauty and a peaceful way of life. You can stroll along beaches edged with swaying palms and swim in warm lagoons protected by coral reefs. The islands are divided naturally into two groups. The eight islands of the southern Cooks include the destinations of Rarotonga and Aitutaki. The Cook Island group was named after Captain James Cook, who sighted the Manua atoll (Hervey Island) in 1773.. The ill fated Captain William Bligh sighted Aitutaki in 1789, and mutineer Fletcher Christian, Rarotonga, on the same boat (the Bounty), shortly after the famous mutiny on April 28.1789. Aitutaki is the second most visited of the magical Cook Islands and is recommended as a "must see"extension to your Rarotonga holidays. Atiu is a fascinating island riddled with caves and surrounded with raised coral cliffs and white sand beaches. Mangaia is the southernmost island of the Cook group and is also surrounded by coral cliffs with an interior of several swamps and a small lake. Limestone and volcanic samples on the island date back eighteen million years. Mauke has beautiful white beaches with the reef close to the island, so the lagoon is shallow. Subterranean caves are found in the interior with easy access from the road encircling the island.
Geography:
The Cook Islands were first settled about 500AD by a migration of Polynesians that left from western French Polynesia. There are no written accounts of pre-Christian history, so most of what we know now comes through the words and actions of traditional dances and through examining the archaeological marae (spiritual meeting places) that lay in ruins around the islands. In 1595, Pukapuka in the northern group was sighted by Alvarano de Mendana of Spain. There were no further sitings by Europeans until 1773, when Captain Cook, on his second Pacific voyage, sighted Manuae and named it Hervey's Island. In 1824, some time after Cook's death, the islands were named the Cook Islands in his honour. Following the explorers came the missionaries and blackbirders bringing with them Christianity and diseases. Within time the Maoris were clothed, their ancient religious beliefs abolished and traditions abandoned. Kava drinking was forbidden, and today is one of the few South Pacific Islands where it is still not consumed. In 1888, the ariki (high chief) on Rarotonga pronounced the islands a British protectorate. For 14 years, the islands were administered from New Zealand but in 1901 the Cooks became annexed to New Zealand and the power of the ariki was removed. In 1965, the islands were declared independent in the form of internal self-governance in association with New Zealand. New Zealand still looks after foreign relations and defence and Cook Islanders remain New Zealand citizens.
Related Links:
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News - news of the Cook Islands |
Offical Sites government of the cook islands |
Country Guides travelling to te Cook Islands |
Education education on the Cook Islands |