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Related FAQs: The Fishes of the
Cook Islands,
Coverage of families in the Cooks: Surgeons, Doctorfishes,
Tangs, Triggerfishes, Hawkfishes,
Wrasses
Related Articles: Introduction to Fishwatcher's
Guide Series Pieces/Sections,
/Fishwatching: Adventure Travel Series
Pet-Fishing in the Cook Islands
Long Version, Part I
To: Pet-Fishing
in the Cooks, Short Version, Longer Version: Part
II
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by Bob Fenner |
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Where are the Cooks?
32
Degrees South Latitude
Hawai'i's principal islands are about 32 degrees north
latitude. |

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More Closely, Twixt Samoa and Polynesia to the east
Spread out in an area larger than Western Europe.
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Cooks History/Geology Notes
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Cook Islanders original Polynesian inhabitants gave rise
to the Maori of New Zealand. The country was a British Commonwealth, now
semi-independent (reliant on aid, protection from NZ). The Cooks are a
Parliamentary democracy, a very stable government. The populace are mainly
Christians of different sorts. |
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This island nation is made up of fifteen islands, only
the surface area of 241 sq. km. (about size of Rhode Island in the US),
spread over water area of over 2 million sq. km. Most folks just visit
Roratonga, Aitutaki Islands in the southern group. The islands are
volcanic in origin (though some now just low-lying sand spots) like
Hawai'i. Steep shorelines, little shelf, deep water about. |
Cooks Economy
vImports
exceed exports.
vMore
citizens outside.
vBlack
pearls largest export.
vTourism
most important, about 50k tourists a year, 11k population/Rora.
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Roratonga Views
Principal Island population, size (67.1 sq. km., about 35 mile drive
around edge), capital wise.
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Aitutaki Views
Second most popular island in Cook's. Site of original
"Survivor" show. Population 2,332. Size 18.3 sq. km. Larger
surrounding lagoon.
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Flora
The principal Cook Islands are one of those places where you can
proverbially put a stick in the ground and it will grow.
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To Cooks Part II
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