The first
European to discover Maupiti was Dutch explorer Roggeveen in 1722. Maupiti is situated 315
kilometers from Tahiti and 40 kilometers west of Bora Bora. The island has an area of 13.5 sq. km., the residue
of a volcanic mountain, Mt. Teurafaatiu, in its the center rises to a height of 372 m. The
actual population of Maupiti is 1,127 people (1996 census) lives in the village of
Vaiea-Farauru. A small airport (situated on a motu) that handles flights to and from
Tahiti has helped to develop tourism on Maupiti, with visitors staying in family pensions.
The island is surrounded by a large lagoon with a series of motu that have an area more
than double the size of the central island. Only a dangerous pass, located between two
motus, through the southern part of the coral reef is usable by the boats to enter the
lagoon. Maupiti has an abundance of archeological sites. On Motu Paeao at the northern end
of the lagoon, there are a group of 16 burial sites that date back to around 850 AD. In
the main island to the south of the village is the marae of the chiefs of Tefarearii
(Marae Vaiahu), near are the fortifications (pa) of Terama Mountain, and to the north of
the village are the petroglyphs representing turtles in the Haranaie Valley. The
population live of tourism and watermelon crops and copra harvesting on the motu. The
island resemble Bora Bora 50 years ago and it's considered one of the most beautiful
islands of the South Seas.
Maupiti island seen from
the Space Shuttle.
ISS007E14856 "Image
courtesy of the Image Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center":
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov
The most beautiful sunrise I have seen in
my life, Maupiti.
Maupiti seen from motu Auira.
Maupiti seen from a boat on road between
motu Auira and the airport.
Tereia beach, Maupiti.
Maupiti town hall: Mairie de Maupiti.
Maupiti airport arrivee.
Sunset, Maupiti.
Maupiti coast seen from Tereia beach and
Mount Hotu Paraoa on the background.
Mount Teurafaatiu (372 metres), seen from
Tereia beach, Maupiti .
Tereia beach, Maupiti.
Vaiea the main Maupiti village.
Motu Auira from motu Pae'ao, Maupiti.
A whale near the reef of Motu Pae'ao.
Rainbow, seen from the airport, Maupiti.
Tereia beach and motu Auira on the
background.
Rainbow over motu Pae'ao.
Sunrise seen from motu Auira, Maupiti.
Mount Teurafaatiu (372 metres), seen from
the lagoon, Maupiti.
Vaiea village seen from the airport, the
bell tower was later destroyed by the cyclone, Maupiti.
