Ranigroa

 

Rangiroa, French Polynesia

The dictionary definition of an atoll is a ring-shaped reef, island, or chain of islands formed of coral.  Use Google Earth to get a sense of this unique structure that is Rangiroa.

Rangiroa actually means "immense sky" in the local language.  Rangiroa is quite possibly the world's most immense natural aquarium, the largest of the Tuamotu Atolls and the second largest in the world. 

If you want to see a place that is going to be impacted by global warming causing a rise in sea level, this is one of those places.  If sea level rises five or six feet, there will be nothing left.

We had signed on to a tour of Reef Island, but the night before we arrived we were sent a message on e-mail that it was cancelled since we were the only two people who signed up.  They offered us an excursion to the Green Lagoon which was definitely going so we said yes.  The ship anchored and we found ourselves on the first tender ashore.  We were early for our pickup so we did a little looking at the outdoor booths set up to sell to tourists.  The cab arrived at 9:00 as advertised and we joined 6 other people stuffed into a small van and took off on the road.  It is the only road.  The island is 6 kilometers or so long, and only 200 meters (am I going metric after only 1 month on the ship?) wide at points.  One road runs down the center of the island with houses on both sides.  There is not room for another road although they did fit in an airport runway at a wide point.  We got to the dock and took a boat ride between islands and landed in tropical island paradise.  The waters in Rangiroa are super clear and exceptionally colorful.  Our landing was at what would have been a local resort if there were much in the way of tourists.  The swimming area went out several hundred meters, palm trees were everywhere, white sandy beach. Once people spread out a little it almost felt like a private sanctuary and reminded us of Gilligan's Island.  We swam.  We lounged.  We watched our hosts clean fish for lunch on the dock.  We paddled kayaks.  We did nothing.  Sun is intense here near the equator so we did not stay long out in the open.  Lunch was served, we lounged some more, and returned to the dock.  We got in the taxi and took the road back to the pier.  Clouds had been building up all day, and once back on the ship the heavens opened for about five minutes of pouring rain.  Very relaxing no strain day in paradise.

Our Green Lagoon Beach

The Catholic Church.  Note the flat land and lack of a buffer from the ocean.