Editing Aitutaki (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Aitutaki Atoll by Nick Longrich.jpg|thumb|Atoll]]
Aitutaki is sometimes described as an "almost [[atoll]]", for it consists of a lagoon within an encircling atoll, with a significant area of high land on one side. It has a maximum elevation of approximately {{Convert|123|m|}} with the hill known as Maunga Pu close to its northernmost point. The land area of the atoll is {{convert|18.05|km2|abbr=on}}, of which the main island occupies {{convert|16.8|km2|abbr=on}}.<ref name=nzetc>{{cite book |url=http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-KloDisc-t1-body-d1.html |title=Discoverers of the Cook Islands and the Names they Gave |author=Alphons M.J. Kloosterman |publisher=Cook Islands Library and Museum |date=1976 |pages=8–11 |access-date=16 February 2021 |via=NZETC}}</ref> The [[Ootu Peninsula]], protruding east from the main island in a southerly direction along the eastern rim of the reef, takes up {{convert|1.75|km2|abbr=on}} out of the main island.<ref>[http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/duffy/arb/190/v190.pdf Atoll Research Bulletin, 190. "Almost-Atoll of Aitutaki: Reef Studies in the Cook Islands", D. R. Stoddard, P. E. Gibbs (eds)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090918202141/http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/duffy/arb/190/v190.pdf |date=18 September 2009 }} 13 August 1975 (12.5 [[Megabyte|MB]])</ref> For the [[lagoon]], area figures between {{convert|50|and|74|km2|abbr=on}} are found.<ref name=nzetc1/><ref name=stuff1>{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/pacific-islands/113898506/cook-islands-the-word-paradise-really-applies-to-this-patch |title=Cook Islands: The word paradise really applies to this patch |publisher=Stuff |date=14 July 2020 |access-date=30 July 2020}}</ref> Satellite image measurement suggests that the larger figure also includes the reef flat, which is commonly not considered part of a lagoon.<ref>{{cite journal| pmc=2880600 | pmid=20539746 | doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0010950 | volume=5 | title=The lagoon at Caroline/Millennium atoll, Republic of Kiribati: natural history of a nearly pristine ecosystem | year=2010 |journal=[[PLoS One]]| page=e10950 | last1 = Barott | first1 = KL | last2 = Caselle | first2 = JE | last3 = Dinsdale | first3 = EA | last4 = Friedlander | first4 = AM | last5 = Maragos | first5 = JE | last6 = Obura | first6 = D | last7 = Rohwer | first7 = FL | last8 = Sandin | first8 = SA | last9 = Smith | first9 = JE | last10 = Zgliczynski | first10 = B| issue=6 | bibcode=2010PLoSO...510950B | doi-access=free }}</ref>

The barrier reef that forms the basis of Aitutaki is roughly the shape of an equilateral triangle with sides {{convert|12|km}} 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, Akaiami, and Tekopua.

The western side of the atoll contains many of Aitutaki's important features including a boat passage through the barrier reef allowing for anchorage close to shore at Arutanga. Towards the south of the side is a small break in the barrier reef, allowing access for small 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. Its fertile volcanic soil provides tropical fruits and vegetables. Two of Aitutaki's 15 islets ([[Motu (geography)|motus]]) are also volcanic. The rest are made of coral.<ref name=nzetc1>{{cite book |url=http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-KloDisc-t1-body-d1.html |chapter=Aitutaki |title=Discoverers of the Cook Islands and the Names they Gave |author=Alphons M.J. Kloosterman |publisher=Cook Islands Library and Museum |date=1976 |access-date=30 July 2020 |via=NZETC}}</ref>

[[Aitutaki Airport]] is located close to the triangle's northern point. The southeastern part of the lagoon near Akaiami used to be used as a landing area for [[Tasman Empire Airways Limited|TEAL]] [[flying boat]]s on the "coral route".<ref name=stuff1/><ref name=teal>{{cite web |url=https://www.cookislandsbooking.com/stories/teals-coral-route-stopover-at-aitutaki-aitutaki |title=TEAL's Coral Route Stopover at Aitutaki |publisher=Cookislandsbooking.com |access-date=30 July 2020 |archive-date=19 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519031817/https://www.cookislandsbooking.com/stories/teals-coral-route-stopover-at-aitutaki-aitutaki |url-status=dead }}</ref>