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Coordinates: 16°30′04″S 151°44′24″W / 16.501°S 151.740°W / -16.501; -151.740
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The island's economy is driven almost entirely by tourism. Several resorts have been built on the ''motu'' surrounding the lagoon. (Motu is a Tahitian word meaning “small islands.”) [[Hotel Bora Bora]] opened in 1961, and nine years later the first over-water [[bungalow]]s on stilts over the lagoon was built.<ref name="tac">{{cite web |date=22 July 2008 |author=Mark Rogers |url=http://m.travelagentcentral.com/french-polynesia/complete-reconstruction-scheduled-hotel-bora-bora-0 |title=Complete Reconstruction Scheduled for Hotel Bora Bora |website=Travel Agent Central |access-date=2015-02-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.is/20150216080232/http://m.travelagentcentral.com/french-polynesia/complete-reconstruction-scheduled-hotel-bora-bora-0 |archive-date=16 February 2015 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Today, over-water bungalows are a standard feature of most Bora Bora resorts. The bungalows range from relatively inexpensive basic accommodations to very luxurious expensive ones.
The island's economy is driven almost entirely by tourism. Several resorts have been built on the ''motu'' surrounding the lagoon. (Motu is a Tahitian word meaning “small islands.”) [[Hotel Bora Bora]] opened in 1961, and nine years later the first over-water [[bungalow]]s on stilts over the lagoon was built.<ref name="tac">{{cite web |date=22 July 2008 |author=Mark Rogers |url=http://m.travelagentcentral.com/french-polynesia/complete-reconstruction-scheduled-hotel-bora-bora-0 |title=Complete Reconstruction Scheduled for Hotel Bora Bora |website=Travel Agent Central |access-date=2015-02-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.is/20150216080232/http://m.travelagentcentral.com/french-polynesia/complete-reconstruction-scheduled-hotel-bora-bora-0 |archive-date=16 February 2015 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Today, over-water bungalows are a standard feature of most Bora Bora resorts. The bungalows range from relatively inexpensive basic accommodations to very luxurious expensive ones.


Most of the tourist destinations are sea-oriented; however, there are also tourist attractions on land, such as World War II cannons. [[Air Tahiti]] operates five or six flights daily between Tahiti and the [[Bora Bora Airport]] on Motu Mute (as well as occasional flights to and from other islands). There is no public transport on the island, so rental cars and bicycles are the recommended means of transport. In addition, there are small, two-seater buggies for hire in Vaitape, and motorboats can be rented to explore the lagoon. [[Vaitape]] is a large city on the west side of the island and is home to a large part of the island’s [[population]]. The city has also become a popular spot for tourism.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bora Bora|url=https://www.adventure-life.com/south-pacific/bora-bora/articles/bora-bora-overview|access-date=2021-03-04|website=www.adventure-life.com}}</ref>
Most of the tourist destinations are sea-oriented; however, there are also tourist attractions on land, such as [[World_War_II|World War II]] cannons. [[Air Tahiti]] operates five or six flights daily between Tahiti and the [[Bora Bora Airport]] on Motu Mute (as well as occasional flights to and from other islands). There is no public transport on the island, so rental cars and bicycles are the recommended means of transport. In addition, there are small, two-seater buggies for hire in Vaitape, and motorboats can be rented to explore the lagoon. [[Vaitape]] is a large city on the west side of the island and is home to a large part of the island’s [[population]]. The city has also become a popular spot for tourism.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bora Bora|url=https://www.adventure-life.com/south-pacific/bora-bora/articles/bora-bora-overview|access-date=2021-03-04|website=www.adventure-life.com}}</ref>


[[Snorkeling]] and [[scuba diving]] in and around Bora Bora’s lagoon are popular activities. Many species of [[shark]]s and [[batoidea|rays]] inhabit the surrounding waters. A few dive operators on the island offer manta-ray dives and shark-feeding dives. (The species of shark living in the island's lagoon are not considered dangerous to people.){{citation needed|date=April 2018}}
[[Snorkeling]] and [[scuba diving]] in and around Bora Bora’s lagoon are popular activities. Many species of [[shark]]s and [[batoidea|rays]] inhabit the surrounding waters. A few dive operators on the island offer manta-ray dives and shark-feeding dives. (The species of shark living in the island's lagoon are not considered dangerous to people.){{citation needed|date=April 2018}}

Revision as of 23:17, 7 June 2021

This article is about the island. For other uses, see Bora Bora (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Tora Bora or Boracay.

Bora Bora
Bora Bora and its lagoon seen from the International Space Station
Geography
Coordinates16°30′04″S 151°44′24″W / 16.501°S 151.740°W / -16.501; -151.740
ArchipelagoSociety Islands
Area30.55 km2 (11.80 sq mi)
Highest elevation727 m (2385 ft)
Highest pointMount Otemanu
Administration
France
Overseas collectivityFrench Polynesia
Administrative subdivisionLeeward Islands
CommuneBora-Bora
Largest settlementVaitape
Demographics
Population10,605[1] (2017)
Pop. density347/km2 (899/sq mi)
Enlargeable, detailed map of Bora Bora

Bora Bora (French: Bora-Bora; Tahitian: Pora Pora) is an island group in the Leeward Islands. The Leeward Islands comprise the western part of the Society Islands of French Polynesia, which is an overseas collectivity of the French Republic in the Pacific Ocean. Bora Bora has a total land area of 30.55 km2 (12 sq mi). The main island, located about 230 kilometres (143 miles) northwest of Papeete, is surrounded by a lagoon and a barrier reef. In the center of the island are the remnants of an extinct volcano, rising to two peaks, Mount Pahia and Mount Otemanu; the highest point is at 727 metres (2,385 feet). Bora Bora is part of the Commune of Bora-Bora, which also includes the atoll of Tūpai. The languages spoken in Bora Bora are Tahitian and French. However, due to the high tourism population, many natives of Bora Bora have learned to speak English.[2]

Bora Bora is a major international tourist destination, famous for its seaside (and even offshore) luxury resorts. The major settlement, Vaitape, is on the western side of the main island, opposite the main channel leading into the lagoon. Produce of the island is mostly limited to what can be obtained from the sea and from the plentiful coconut trees, which were historically of economic importance for the production of copra.

Name

In ancient times the island was called Pora pora mai te pora, meaning "created by the gods" in the local Tahitian dialect. This was often abbreviated Pora Pora meaning simply "first born". The Tahitian language and the English, French, or Dutch languages, each use a unique set of phonemes, so the spelling and pronunciation of the name changes as it passes from one language to another. Since Tahitian does not distinguish between the sounds [p] and [b], the sound represented by ⟨p⟩ lies in between the two[citation needed], while ⟨r⟩ represents a sound not present in English similar in sound to [l] and [ɹ̠]. So Pora Pora could also be heard by English, French, or Dutch speakers as Bola Bola or Bora Bora. When explorer Jacob Roggeveen first landed on the island, he and his crew adopted the name Bora Bora, which has stood ever since.[3][4]

History

Main article: Kingdom of Bora Bora
Flag of the Kingdom of Bora Bora (1837–1842)
Queen Teriimaevarua III and her maids of honor,[clarification needed] circa 1895

The island was inhabited by Polynesian settlers around the 4th century [citation needed] The first European sighting was made by Jakob Roggeveen in 1722.

James Cook sighted the island on 29 July 1769, with the help of a Tahitian navigator, Tupaia.[5] The London Missionary Society arrived in 1820 and founded a Protestant church in 1890. Bora Bora was an independent kingdom until 1888, when the French annexed the island as a colony and forced its last queen, Teriimaevarua III, to abdicate.

World War II

During World War II, the United States chose Bora Bora as a South Pacific military supply base, and constructed an oil depot, an airstrip, a seaplane base, and defensive fortifications. The base, known as "Operation Bobcat", comprised nine ships, 20,000 tons of equipment, and nearly 7,000 soldiers.

At least eight 7-inch guns were operated by some members of the 13th Coast Artillery Regiment (later renamed the 276th Coast Artillery Battalion). The guns were set up at strategic points around the island to protect it against potential military attack. Eight of these guns remain in the area to this day.[6][7]

However, the island saw no combat. The American presence on Bora Bora went uncontested for the entire course of the war. The base was officially closed on 2 June 1946. The World War II airstrip was never enlarged to accommodate large aircraft, but it was nonetheless French Polynesia's only international airport until 1960, when Faa'a International Airport opened next to Papeete, Tahiti.[8]

Tourism

Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora

The island's economy is driven almost entirely by tourism. Several resorts have been built on the motu surrounding the lagoon. (Motu is a Tahitian word meaning “small islands.”) Hotel Bora Bora opened in 1961, and nine years later the first over-water bungalows on stilts over the lagoon was built.[9] Today, over-water bungalows are a standard feature of most Bora Bora resorts. The bungalows range from relatively inexpensive basic accommodations to very luxurious expensive ones.

Most of the tourist destinations are sea-oriented; however, there are also tourist attractions on land, such as World War II cannons. Air Tahiti operates five or six flights daily between Tahiti and the Bora Bora Airport on Motu Mute (as well as occasional flights to and from other islands). There is no public transport on the island, so rental cars and bicycles are the recommended means of transport. In addition, there are small, two-seater buggies for hire in Vaitape, and motorboats can be rented to explore the lagoon. Vaitape is a large city on the west side of the island and is home to a large part of the island’s population. The city has also become a popular spot for tourism.[10]

Snorkeling and scuba diving in and around Bora Bora’s lagoon are popular activities. Many species of sharks and rays inhabit the surrounding waters. A few dive operators on the island offer manta-ray dives and shark-feeding dives. (The species of shark living in the island's lagoon are not considered dangerous to people.)[citation needed]

In addition to the existing islands of Bora Bora, the new manmade island of Motu Marfo has been added in the northeastern corner of the lagoon on the property of the St. Regis Resort.[11]

Climate

Bora Bora has a tropical monsoon climate. Temperatures are relatively consistent throughout the year, with hot days and warm nights. The dry season lasts from June to October, but there is some precipitation even during those months.

Climate data for Bora-Bora
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 30.2
(86.4) 		30.8
(87.4) 		30.5
(86.9) 		30.3
(86.5) 		29.5
(85.1) 		28.5
(83.3) 		28.1
(82.6) 		28.1
(82.6) 		28.6
(83.5) 		29.1
(84.4) 		29.4
(84.9) 		29.6
(85.3) 		29.4
(84.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 25.1
(77.2) 		25.3
(77.5) 		25.5
(77.9) 		25.5
(77.9) 		25.2
(77.4) 		24.2
(75.6) 		23.8
(74.8) 		23.8
(74.8) 		24.0
(75.2) 		24.3
(75.7) 		24.6
(76.3) 		24.8
(76.6) 		24.7
(76.5)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 268.7
(10.58) 		233.2
(9.18) 		176.9
(6.96) 		182.7
(7.19) 		129.8
(5.11) 		98.2
(3.87) 		83.3
(3.28) 		59.7
(2.35) 		65.5
(2.58) 		99.8
(3.93) 		203.7
(8.02) 		280.6
(11.05) 		1,882.1
(74.10)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 201.1 202.6 239.4 219.8 224.1 224.5 231.8 248.4 241.0 230.5 217.7 207.0 2,687.9
Source: NOAA[12]

[13] Most rainfall occurs during the summer months (November to April) and is accompanied by high humidity, although clear days are not unknown in mid-January.[citation needed]

Endemic gastropod ecology and decline

Historically, Bora Bora’s virgin forest habitats, on the slopes of Mount Otemanu, had a very diverse assortment of snail and slug species (gastropods) compared to other islands. Several species of endemic or native species existed in great numbers until relatively recently. However, after Lissachatina, Euglandina and various flatworms were introduced to the island, they had wiped out the populations of the endemic partulid species Partula lutea the late 1990s),[14] Samoana attenuata (a species once native to Bora Bora but later not found in surveys of the island[14]), and Mautodontha boraborensis (a critically endangered species as of 1996 but most likely extinct, as it was last seen in the 1880s[14]). The above listed native and endemic species were mostly restricted to virgin forest, and the only species that remain common (perhaps even extant) are several subulinids and tornatellinids among others, including Orobophana pacifica (a helicinid).[15]

Gallery

  • Aerial view of Bora Bora
    Aerial view of Bora Bora
  • Aerial view of Bora Bora
    Aerial view of Bora Bora
  • Mount Otemanu
    Mount Otemanu
  • The French frigate Floréal, stationed in Bora-Bora lagoon
    The French frigate Floréal, stationed in Bora-Bora lagoon
  • Maohi Protestant Church in Anau
    Maohi Protestant Church in Anau
  • Coca-Cola Machine in Vaitape
    Coca-Cola Machine in Vaitape
  • Leaning palm trees with metal bands to stop coconut crabs
    Leaning palm trees with metal bands to stop coconut crabs
  • Sofitel Motu with Mount Otemanu in the background
    Sofitel Motu with Mount Otemanu in the background
  • Bora Bora
    Bora Bora
  • North-east view of Bora Bora from Mt Pahia
    North-east view of Bora Bora from Mt Pahia
  • Looking east toward Marara Beach Motu in Bora Bora
    Looking east toward Marara Beach Motu in Bora Bora
  • Bora Bora
    Bora Bora
  • Satellite image of Bora Bora
    Satellite image of Bora Bora
  • Panoramic image of Bora Bora
    Panoramic image of Bora Bora

See also

References

  1. ^ "Populations légales de Polynésie française en 2017" [Legal Populations of French Polynesia in 2017]. Insee (in French). 27 December 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  2. ^ "French Polynesia - The World Factbook". www.cia.gov. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  3. ^ Woods, Michael; Woods, Mary B. (2009). Seven Natural Wonders of Australia and Oceania. Twenty-First Century Books. p. 58. ISBN 978-082-259074-3.
  4. ^ "An Ancient Wonder — Bora Bora Island". Must Do Travels. 11 January 2017. Archived from the original on 22 January 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  5. ^ Salmond, Anne (2010). Aphrodite's Island. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 213–214. ISBN 978-052-026114-3.
  6. ^ Gaines, William C. (May 2009). "Coast Artillery Organizational History, 1917-1950 — Part I, Coast Artillery Regiments 1-196" (PDF). The Coast Defense Journal. p. 10.
  7. ^ Berhow, Mark A., ed. (2015). American Seacoast Defenses, A Reference Guide, Third Edition. McLean, Virginia: CDSG Press. p. 235. ISBN 978-0-9748167-3-9.
  8. ^ "Contenu et images Notre histoire" [Content and Images Our Story] (in French). l'Office des Postes et des Télécommunications [Office of Post and Telecommunications]. Archived from the original on 13 April 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
  9. ^ Mark Rogers (22 July 2008). "Complete Reconstruction Scheduled for Hotel Bora Bora". Travel Agent Central. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  10. ^ "Bora Bora". www.adventure-life.com. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  11. ^ "The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort". Bora Bora All Inclusive Guide. Archived from the original on 25 August 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  12. ^ "Bora-Bora Motu Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  13. ^ "Climate and average monthly weather in Bora Bora (Bora Bora), French Polynesia". weather-and-climate.com. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  14. ^ a b c "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  15. ^ Gerlach, Justin (August 2017). "Partula survival in 2017, a survey of the Society islands" (PDF). Island Biodiversity. Retrieved 28 December 2018.

External links

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