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The first recorded discovery of the
island by Europeans was Captain Bligh on the "Bounty." He arrived on
April 11, 1789, not long before the infamous mutiny, and just three months
before the storming of the Bastille in Paris, which started the French
Revolution. Bligh returned later, on July 25, 1792. He is credited with
introducing the paw paw fruit to Aitutaki, which fruit is now an important
export product for the Cook Islands.
The high point of any visit to Aitutaki
is a lagoon cruise. Most boats go to Tapuatae, One Foot Island, at the far
south-eastern corner of the huge lagoon. Keen snorkelers need to go east towards
the reef before the coral begins to compare with that in Rarotonga's southern
lagoon. However, the diving is excellent and the fish plentiful in the best
spots. |
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