COOK ISLANDS - SOUTH PACIFIC
Tongareva – Developing Black Pearls

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Black pearl agriculture is an anchor of the Tongareva economic system. The waters in the lagoons continue uncontaminated. This makes developing the black-lipped oysters easier. An exceptional technician seeds each oyster one by one. The seed forms the base of the cultured pearl. The oyster will fix layers of mother-of-pearl on the seed, finally finishing up with a black pearl of benevolent size. This manufacture forms the anchor of the local economic system. Two additional pearls hail from the waters of the lagoon: the Keshi pearl and the innate Golden Pearl.

Almost all Europeans recognize Tongareva as Penrhyn Island. It is the biggest of the atolls in the Cook Islands. As with all atolls, it rides atop an immense volcanic cone that arises from the ocean bottom thousands of feet beneath.

In the instance of this atoll, the floor of the volcano is just about 16,000 below. All the same, the most eminent altitude on the islands is but over 16 feet above ocean level. The lip of the atoll is a band of coral reef that joins the islands in a crude egg-shape. The total measure of earth above water is almost four square miles. This acreage fends for between 200 and 300 denizens.

Tongareva has two chief villages. The settlement of Omoka rests on the westerly isle of Moananui. That is where both the airport and authorities sit. The other main settlement is Te Tautua, which rides on the easterly isle of Pokerere. Christianity prevails with islands with 75% of them being part of the Cook Islands Christian Church.

The rest go to the Roman Catholic Church. This partition in churches is minor bone of controversy amid the local population. The citizenry here make their livelihood chiefly from the culture of valued black pearls. Prior to the first appearance of the black pearl industry, the natives depended upon the product of copra and other coconut products.

Almost all food on Tongareva arrives from the sea and locally raised produce. External basics such as flour and rice come in by cargoes from Rarotonga, but those can be few and far between. Visitors can come to the island by boat or by plane. Air Rarotonga flies weekly to the atoll. A lot of visitors come by private yachts, which can drop anchor in the lagoon. It is a popular way station for those journeying between New Zealand and South America. For those remaining ashore, there are accommodations useable, but the amount is limited.

For a listing of hotels and resorts on the Cook Islands, click here.