Rangorea, French Polynesia

Rangorea, French Polynesia, is a coral atoll in the shape of an oval. Land is on the ring with a lagoon in the center. Although one of the largest atolls in the world, it is only 170 square kilometers. The atoll consists of about 415 motus, islets, and sandbars with about 100 narrow passages fringing the reef.

We were welcomed by a native dance group.

Right off the pier there were tents set up selling black pearls, trinkets, and t shirts. We spent the morning walking to the other side of the atoll from where we anchored. It is a short walk and very flat. It makes you pause to think what will happen to this community when the waters inevitably rise due to climate change.

The other side of the island had an impressive surf and the "beach" consisted of broken and bleached coral.

Our friends decided to go to a little french restaurant at the end of this alley of palm trees. The cafe was right on the water and they had a lovely time.

In the afternoon, we went snorkeling which is the bulk of the economy here - that and Tahitian pearls. While we were waiting for the snorkel boat, we went to a bar in a hut jutting over the water. Brilliant fish were down below, including two 3' stingrays, a moray eel, and a black tipped shark. Water was light blue and transparent. Flowers were abundant everywhere.