Aitutaki is one of the Cook Islands, north of Rarotonga. It has a population of approximately 2,000. Aitutaki is the second most visited island of the Cook Islands.

Geography

Aitutaki is an atoll, located at . It has a maximum height of approximately 90 meters with the hill known as Maungapu close to its northernmost point.

The reef that forms the basis of Aitutaki is roughly the shape of an equilateral triangle with sides 12 kilometres in length. The southern edge of the triangle is almost totally below the surface of the ocean, and the eastern side is composed of a string of small islands (including Mangere, Akiami, and Tekopua).

The western side of the atoll contains many of Aitutaki's most important features. towards the south of the side is a break in the atoll, allowing access for boats to the lagoon which covers most of the southern part of the triangle. Further to the north is the bulk of the main island, with a further break in the atoll allowing for anchorage close to shore at Arutanga. Other settlements on the main island include

An airstrip is located close to the triangle's northern point, and there is an area suitable for the landing of flying boats in the southern part of the lagoon.

History

Polynesians probably first settled Aitutaki around AD 900. The first known European contact was with Captain Bligh and the crew of the "HMS Bounty" on April 11, 1789. The famous mutiny followed soon after.

Postage stamps

Aitutaki used the postage stamps of the Cook Islands from 1892 to 1903, when New Zealand overprinted its own stamps with "AITUTAKI." and the denomination written in local dialect. Seven of the eight values were issued in Auckland on 12 June and in Aitutaki 29 June, with the 2 1/2d arriving later, on 9 November. Similar sets of overprints appeared periodically from 1911 to 1920.

In 1920 New Zealand produced an omnibus issue for the several Cook islands, each inscribed with the island's name. A similar idea was used for a set of three in 1924-1927.

On 15 March 1932, stamps of the Cook Islands again replaced the Aitutaki issues. This lasted for forty years, then in 1972 Aitutaki established a separate postal service, and has issued its own stamps (mostly printed by Heraclio Fournier in Spain) since then. These issues are primarily intended for sale to collectors.

External links

• Aitutaki: The Blue Lagoon of the Pacific
• Aitutaki: images