Rarotonga - Wikiwand
Rarotonga is the largest and most populous of the Cook Islands. The island is volcanic, with an area of 67.39 km2 (26.02 sq mi), and is home to almost 75% of th...
www.wikiwand.comRarotonga gained independence in 1858, and then entered a UK protectorate in 1888 by its own request, the Cook Islands Federation title was adopted in 1893; New Zealand annexation occurred in 1900 after chiefs ceded governance. Volcanic in origin, the largest island has a rugged interior, and Te Manga peak stands as a notable feature, with HMS Bounty mutineers visiting in 1789, preceding missionary activity that shaped local order. It remains the Cook Islands’ most populous island, with a long history of ariki-led governance and conversion to Christianity.