Capital City of Cook Islands

Co-cook islands, the Cook Islands.

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Cook Islands are a nice natural wonder for all. It' s not a very famous life on the worldmap, but it has proved its domination as a favourite destination in the South Pacific. Cook Islands offer seductive experiences and stunning vistas amidst the crystalline blue water and brightly sandy beach.

Rarotonga's biggest isle to the small flat plateau, the visitor to this region is recompensed with pristine nature and rejuvenated attractions at every turn and nook. Cook Islands are an unspoiled group of fifteen islands in the South Pacific. The islands of different shape and size are overloaded on an area of 240 square kilometres.

Situated between French Polynesia and Fiji, the Cook Islands are also near the state of New Zealand from across the world. There are two groups of islands, the Southern Group and the Northern Group. It is the most populated group with 90% of the total inhabitants.

It consists of the islands of Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Atiu, Mangaia, Manuae, Mauke, Mitiaro, Palmerston and Takutea. Rarotonga is the most important and biggest of these islands, of which the smallest is the one of the small one. This part of the Cook Islands is volcanically shaped. Manihiki, Nassau, Penrhyn, Pukapuka, Rakahanga and Suwarrow are the six islands of the Northern Group.

Penrhyn is the biggest of the islands here, while Suwarrow is the smallest with an area of only 40ha. Avarua, the capital, is a flourishing administration and trade centre with all the latest equipment, as well as the International Airport. Cook Islands' climates depend on their overall position and show a typically sea climatic with tropic characteristics.

Cook Islands are also susceptible to major threats such as disastrous tropic winds and even cataclysm. Polynesians, Cook Island Maoris, are mainly related to New Zealand's Maoris and the Tahitians. No clear historic time line exists for the Cook Islands, but archeological finds suggest that Rarotonga was populated almost 1500 years ago.

Pukapuka became known to the outside populace when the Spaniard Alvaro de Mendana first saw the isle in 1595. Johann von Krusenstern, the famous kartographer from Russia, called the Cook Islands in 1824. On 4 August 1965, the Cook Islands became a self-governing state in free Association with New Zealand.

The Cook Islands' major industry is off-shore finance, maritime assets and farming.