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ContributorsHere you can find many places from the Cook Islands: cities, villages, beaches, and sightseeings. Use it with APIs or GraphQL. Source: Geonames.
NotesCook Islands Overview
The Cook Islands are self-governed islands that are associated with New Zealand. It is one of the most popular and fascinating islands of the Pacific Ocean. Today, we will discuss everything that you should know about the Cook Islands.
Location to know about
The Cook Islands is located in the Southern region of the Pacific Ocean. To be precise, Cook Islands is located in Polynesia, particularly east to French Polynesia and west to the Tango.
The Cook Islands consists of 15 small islands, which cover a vast area. The largest mountain is Rarotonga, which has an area of about 236 km. Avarua is the national capital of the Cook Islands. The small islands are vastly scattered, and all together, they are as big as one city.
An insight about Cook Islands
The Island consists of two portions. The Northern Cook Islands and the Southern Cook Islands. The Northern Cook Islands consists of six islets that have a flat terrain. They are coral ring-shaped coral reefs, or you can say coral islands. The Southern Cook Islands consists of eight Islands. These eight islets have a decent elevation, and the nature of the soil and rocks here is volcanic.
The Northern Islands are:
- Manihiki
- Nassau
- Penrhyn
- Pukapuka
- Rakahanga
- Suvarrow
And the Southern Cook Islands are:
- Aitukati
- Atiu
- Mangaia
- Manuae
- Mauke
- Mitiaro
- Palmerston
- Takutea
The highest point of the Cook Islands is Te Manga, on Rarotonga. Its height is about 2140 feet. There are generally no lakes on the Cook Islands. Instead, there are small lakes on the Southern Cook Islands. The lagoons are located on the Northern Cook Islands and are full of different species of marine life.
Captain Cook conquered the islands in 1770. And they were administered by the British government until 1888. However, by 1900 the administrative power was transferred to the government of New Zealand. And now the islands are self-governed by the people, but in association with New Zealand.
What about the Climate?
As the land is tropical, the weather here is usually warm and humid all year long. Trade winds also blow from south to east. The average temperature of Rarotonga is between 24 °C - 25 °C in winter, which arrives in May, and lasts until late October. In addition to this, in summers, which is between December and April, the temperatures can go as high as 29 °C -30 °C.
The Southern Cook Islands have a relatively low average temperature than Northern Cook Islands. The islands experience rainfall throughout November and April. The rainfall averages 80 inches. Generally, most of the rainfall is experienced by Rarotonga. Tropical cyclones also arise in December and March and are quite powerful. In general, islands are hit by these tropical cyclones once every five or ten years.
Demographics
The average life expectancy for males living in the islands is about 65 – 70 years, while the average life expectancy of females is 75 years. Most of the islands' inhabitants have fled to New Zealand or Australia in search of opportunities and have a better lifestyle. Most of the population is found on Rarotonga, and people are usually employed there.
Economy
Farming is the primary source that contributes to the economy. The main crops are potatoes. Fishing also plays a vital role in helping the economy to be stable. Tuna is exported and shipped to New Zealand and Australia, which heavily benefits the economy.
Conclusion
The above-specified is a brief yet thorough overview of the Cook Islands. If you are looking for a perfect place to enjoy your holidays with your family and friends, make sure to visit Cooks Islands. The numerous activities and the soothing climate would enhance your vacation experience.
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