Journey through the dramatic volcanic landscapes and lush interiors of Rarotonga and the Southern Cook Islands, revealing how fire and time shaped these Pacific gems.
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Islands Forged by Fire and Coral
This series, Rarotonga's Volcanic Heart, explores the dramatic geology that built the Cook Islands — from violent eruptions on the ocean floor to the slow, patient work…
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1
Rarotonga Rose From a Deep Hotspot
Rarotonga sits directly above what geologists call a mantle hotspot — a plume of superheated rock rising from deep within the Earth's interior.
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Te Manga and the Needle Above
Rarotonga's interior is so densely forested and steep that no road has ever crossed the island from one side to the other.
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3
Two Island Groups, Two Different Fates
The Cook Islands split into two geologically distinct halves, and the difference comes down to age.
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4
Ancient Reefs Now Form Dry Land
Some of the ground beneath your feet in the Cook Islands was once a living reef underwater.
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