Penrhyn Island
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Penrhyn Island (also called Tongareva or Mangarongaro) is the most remote and largest atoll of the 15 Cook Islands in the south Pacific Ocean, 1365 km (848 miles) north-north-east of Rarotonga, 9 degrees below the equator. It sits atop the highest submarine volcano in the Cooks, 4876 m (15,917 ft) above the ocean floor. It comprises a ring of coral 77 km (48 miles) around. The lagoon covers 233 square kilometres (90 mile²) of which 62 square kilometres (24 mile²) is covered with pearlshell.[1][2]
Penrhyn's original name was Tongareva, signifying "Tonga floating in space". The present-day Maori name is Mangarongaro which developed from the name of one of the divisions of the large south-western islet. However, the most commonly-used name is Penrhyn after the "Lady Penrhyn" commanded by Captain William Cropton Lever who landed on August 8 1788. Another European name was Bennett Island.[3]
Land area is 9.84 square kilometres (2432 acres). Maximum elevation less than 5 m. Population of 628 (1961).[4][5]
Image:Tongareava-Lagoon-01.jpg
In World War II a substantial airstrip was built, which is still used today for weekly flights by the local Airline for flights to and from Rarotonga.
A large passage in the lagoon allows interisland ships to enter the lagoon and the island has become popular as a stopover for with yachts crossing the Pacific from Panama to New Zealand.
Black pearl farming is the only significant economic activity on the island. The locally produced Rito hats, woven from Pandanus leaves, are considered the finest in the whole South Pacific. Using the young coconut leaf they follow the same process as for pandanus though the end product is a smaller, finer, and whiter leaf. Called rito weaving the traditional items woven are Sunday church fans, small baskets and hats, the hats being a copy of the ones the sailors wore.[http://www.mahina.com/pacific.html}
Missionaries. In 1864 Penrhyn was almost depopulated by Peruvian slavers (also called blackbirding). An estimated 1,000 men, women, and children were taken to South America. Native pastors of the London Missionary Society had introduced Christianity from Rarotonga in 1854. The new religion had been accepted enthusiastically, and the villagers immediately wanted to build churches. Promise of good pay and safe return from the slavers offered a way to obtain money for churches. But most died in exile, virtually slaves. [6] Another source states that "In 1863 some 410 of the total population of about 500 were removed by trickery, the Spanish Peruvian perpetrators being abetted by four native missionary teachers who sold these unfortunates for five dollars a head! In fact, three of them accompanied the slaves to Peru as interpreters" [7]
External links
ca:Penrhyn de:Penrhyn es:Penrhyn fr:Penrhyn no:Tongareva fi:Tongareva sv:Penrhyn