Rakahanga

Template: Infobox Atoll / Maintenance / height Missing

Rakahanga ( other names: Gente Hermosa del Peregrino or La ) is a remote atoll in the Cook Islands in the Pacific Ocean. The atoll is located 1250 km from the southern capital of the Cook Islands, Avarua on Rarotonga and 1110 km south of the equator. The closest island is Manihiki almost 38 km away, also in the south.

The atoll consists of two main islands and seven motu ( reef ) in the lagoon. In the east, these are: Akaro, Motu Ngangle, Huananul, Motu Motu Mahuta and Okakara; on the southwest side of the island is Te Kainga and the widest passage into the lagoon.

The islands are just 4 km ² in size and are so low that the rise in sea levels due to global warming poses a serious threat. 2006 141 people inhabited the island.

History

It is stated that Ferdinand Magellan had discovered the island in 1521 for the Europeans, but this is not supported by historians of the island's history. One of the last great voyages of discovery of the Spaniards under the command of Pedro Fernández de Quirós reached the island on March 2, 1606, he wrote in a description of the journey. "This country is divided among many owners and planted with a certain root that their bread must be. The rest of the island is a large, dense palm grove, which is the staple food of the natives. About 500 residents were seen on the coast gathered together. "

A traveling with Franciscan brother was so moved by admiration, that he named the island gente hermosa ( " island of beautiful people "). De Quiros describes the inhabitants as "the most beautiful and elegant white people we met during the trip ."

In 1854 Rakahanga by missionaries of the London Missionary Society, who came from Rarotonga, proselytized

The island was claimed under the Guano Islands Act of 1856 for the U.S.. This claim was formally ceded in 1980 in an agreement between the U.S. and New Zealand on New Zealand.

Commander AC Clarke belonging to the class sloop HMS Doterel Espiegle declared the island on August 9, 1889 a British protectorate. It was in 1901 considered to be part of New Zealand.

Nature

In the lagoon numerous coconut crab live, the outer reef offers good conditions for fishing, live here also numerous sea turtles. Every January, at a fishing competition instead of tuna, in which the boats to land more than 200 fish daily.

The island is densely covered. Large breadfruit trees line the village paths and coconut trees and Pandanusbäume thrive. From the fibers of the leaves of Pandanusbaumes women produce hats, mats and baskets.

The island is very difficult to reach, accessible only by boat from Manihiki or with an occasional trains running between the islands boat.

The local language is Rakahanga - Manihiki.