| Rarotonga is the most populous island in a group of islands known as the Cook Islands, with about 9,500 residents.
Cook Islands' Parliament buildings, as well as the international airport, are located on Rarotonga. Because it is the most populous island, Cook Islanders may be referred to as Rarotongan, but they may in fact come from one of the other 15 islands in the group, such as Aitutaki or Mangaia. Rarotonga is also a very popular tourist destination with many resorts, hotels and motels.
The chief town, Avarua, on the north coast, is also the capital of the Cook Islands. Rarotonga is divided into 12 districts, the first six of which constitute the capital, Avarua, and the others villages.
Rarotonga Island stands 14750 feet (4500 meters) above the ocean floor. The island is 20 miles (32 km) in circumference and has an area of 26 square miles (67 kmē). At a depth of 13000 feet (4000 meters), the volcano is nearly 31 miles (50 km) in diameter. The highest peak on the island above sea level is 2140 feet (658 meters).
The island is surrounded by a lagoon, which extends several hundred yards (meters) to the reef, which then slopes steeply to deep water. The reef fronts the shore to the north of the island, making the lagoon there unsuitable for swimming and watersports, but to the south east, particularly around Muri, the lagoon is at its widest and deepest. This part of the island is the most popular with tourists because of the suitability of the lagoon for swimming, snorkelling and boating. Agricultural terraces, flats, and swamps surround the central mountain area.
The interior of the island is dominated by eroded volcanic peaks cloaked in dense vegatation. Sealed and unsealed roads allow access to valleys but the interior of the island remains largely unpopulated due to forbidding terrain and lack of infrastructure.
A large tract of land has been set aside in the south east as the Takitumu Conservation Area to protect the islands native birds and plants, namely the Rarotonga Flycatcher, Kakerori.
Palm studded white sandy beaches fringe most of the island and there is a popular cross island walk that connects Avatiu valley with the south side of the island. This walk passes Te Rua Manga, the prominent Needle shaped rock visible from the air and some coastal areas.
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