Aitutaki

Aitutaki (18.02sq.km/11.17sq.mi) - which is almost an atoll - is a popular holiday island, particularly for day or longer excursions from Rarotonga. It consists of a main island of deeply weathered basalt (area 16.8sq.km/10.41sq.mi), which is surrounded by a wide lagoon. Its highest hill is Maungapu (124m/406ft). The lagoon, which at many points is shallow, is surrounded by a triangular barrier reef marking the outline of the volcano that rises from a depth of 4000m/13120ft below sea level. On the eastern reef are 12 small coral islands (motus) with a total area of 2.2sq.km/1.36sq.mi. The only sand island is on the southwestern reef. Two little basalt islets, Rapota and Moturakau, lie off the reef in the southwest of the lagoon. All 15 motus are fringed with coconut palms. The coastal areas of the main island also have coconut and pandanus palms. The scanty vegetation of the higher islands reflects the fact that they have less rainfall than Rarotonga. On the west side of the island there is a gap in the reef that allows boats and motor lighters access to the little harbor of the chief place on the island, Arutanga, in which are the island's post office, administrative offices, hospital and shops. There are other small settlements in the north and east of the island, easily reached on good roads. Most of the accommodations for visitors are on the west side of the island, in sight of the lagoon. Aitutaki's main source of income apart from tourism is its banana plantations.