MANIHI 'Island of Black Pearl'
There are some heavenly places which do not need an introduction. Manihi is a string of islets where palm trees languish and white-sand beaches abound, bathed in a "South Seas" emerald water, is the perfect of all such places, a setting for a Stevenson novel.
Its clear lagoon which is 3 ½ miles wide by 19 miles long has a deep navigable pass through the reef, and shelters numerous black pearl farms. The population of 400 live in village of Turipaoa next to this pass.
Manihi is an atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago, 520 km (312 miles) northeast of Tahiti and is a 1 hour 40 minute flight from Papeete. Air Tahiti flies, seven days a week, 10 flights per week, to Manihi. |