So what's an atoll and where is Rangiroa?
Actually an atoll is a circle of small islets that used to circle a volcano that came up out of the ocean and then sunk into the sea. The largest of the great chain of atolls known as the Tuamotu Archipelago, Rangiroa lies almost 200 miles northeast of Tahiti. The islets enclose a tadpole shaped lagoon that is 14 miles across and 46 miles long. This means from where we are on the north side of the lagoon, you can't see to the other side. The islets are no more than 10 feet above sea level. The lagoon is connected to the ocean by two passes with fast currents of 7 knots when the tide comes in and reverses when the tide goes out. People snorkle in the passes and just drift to the other side while streams of fish hustle by underneath them. The interior of the lagoon is wild shades of blue and teaming with many of the fish Janet describes below plus sharks (small ones ... I think) and rays and bunches of others. Some of the islets are bird sanctuaries.
So, we are in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean. Amazing to us. And soon we may catch up on our sleep and go exploring.
So, we are in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean. Amazing to us. And soon we may catch up on our sleep and go exploring.
posted by Mel and Janet Muchnik | 7:01 PM
2 Comments:
Sounds delightful, and a great place for Janet to recover. Hope you're doing better, Janet! Not much going on here. Have heard little wailing or gnashing of teeth over the departure of Sammy, Mel (where are you going to wear that jersey now?). NHL/NHLPA still talking, perhaps unaware that fans have already pulled the plug. We're going to go for a long walk today (Sunday) and bask in those highs in the 40s.
Dan & Lisa
Hi All - thanks for these wonderful comments. I see you are sweating Tom and Tracy in the balmy 55 degrees of Chicago. We're suffering at the 80 degrees - high humidity. Tsk tsk. Soooo we are snorkeling right off our beach where the variety of fish is extraordinary.
Dan and Lisa - thanks for you always supportive comments. Janet still coughing , but getting better. Still the fish are scared when she coughs while snorkeling. I guess not South Pacific protocol
Sally - your comments are a riot. I've used the "atoll road" in several emails now.
By the way - the internet cafe I am using is about a 15 minute bike ride to end of the strip of islands that we are on - part opf the larger tadpole shaped atoll.
Cheers - Mel
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