Page 117 - French Polynesia

He island stretches 9 km from north to south and around 4 as “Operation Bobcat”, it maintained a supply force of nine ships,
20,000 tons of equipment and nearly 7,000 men. Seven artillery
T km wide as its broadest point. Volcanically formed around 4
million years ago and you can still see the rim of the underwater guns were set up at strategic points around the island to protect

volcano that has been eroded by the sea to form Povai Bay. The it against potential military attack. The island saw no combat as

islans has a 32 km long coastal road that runs along the island and the American presence on Bora Bora went uncontested during the

is the best ways to see the incredible wealth of natural beauty Bora WWII. The World War II airstrip, which was never able to accom-

Bora. The island is home to world famous hotels and resorts. modate large aircraft, was French Polynesia’s only international

airport until Faa’a International Airport was opened in Papeete,
B ora Bora is a major international tourist destination, famous for Tahiti, in 1960.
its aqua-centric luxury resorts. The major settlement, Vaitape,
is on the western side of the main island, opposite the main chan- B ora Bora’s lagoon and surrounding reefs are home to a wide
nel into the lagoon. Bora Bora has a permanent population of and diverse variety of fish with over 500 different species.

8,880. The island was inhabited by Polynesian settlers around the Larger animals are encountered on the outer reef including gray

4th century AD. The first European sighting was made by Jakob reef sharks, whitetip reef sharks, schools of blacktip reef sharks,

Roggeveen in 1722. James Cook sighted the island in 1770 and lemon sharks, and silvertip sharks. Numerous species of rays can

landed that same year. The London Missionary Society arrived in be encountered in the central lagoon, including the groups of

1820 and founded a Protestant church in 1890. Bora Bora was an manta rays for which the site has become famous. Divers have a

independent kingdom until 1888 when its last queen Teriimaevar- unique opportunity to dive with graceful manta rays inside Bora

ua III was forced to abdicate by the French who annexed the island Bora’s lagoon. Eagle rays, stingrays, bat rays and leopard stingrays

as a colony. Bora Bora was used as a US supply base during World are common in Bora Bora’s lagoon. Humpback whales migrate

War II. Diring World War II the United States urilized Bora Bora as a through these quiet waters seasonally from late July through to

South Pacific military supply base, and an oil depot, airstrip, sea- November.

plane base, and defensive fortifications were constructed. Known