Atiu

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Atiu, also known as Enuamanu (meaning land of the birds), is an island lying at 187 km to the northeast of Rarotonga, in the Southern Islands group of the Cook Islands Archipelago.

Geography

Atiu is a raised volcanic island surrounded by a reef from which rises 6-m cliffs of fossilized coral (makatea). This coral cliff forms a mile-wide ring round the island, forming a virtual plateau. Erosion at the innerside of the ring has formed dip of about 30-m into fertile land, which gradually rises again to a central 70-m flat-topped hill.

Human settlements

It is on the central hill that most human settlements are concentrated. On the 12 March 2003, the population of Atiu is 571. They live in 5 villages radiating out from the island center. See also www.ck/atiu2.htm

References

[Atiu Info]

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