TAHITI RANGIROA SCENERY

Mataiva is located in Tuamotu islands westernmost. I knew there was an island named Mataiva in the west of Rangiroa when I made the Rangiroa Scenery for FS2000.
However, I was surprised to see the aerophotograph. The whole island forms a huge shallow pool. So I had a hard time in making the texture.

Tikehau, located in the middle of Mataiva and Rangiroa, is known as an island where the density of the fish is the highest in the world. There is the channel called the Tuheiava pass in the west of the atoll. The Tuheiava pass has a lot of famous diving spots around the Tuheiava pass. The islands in the lagoon are called "Bird Islands" where a lot of wild birds inhabit.

Makatea is located in about 230km northeast of Tahiti. Most islands in Tuamotu are atolls while Macatea is the only island in upheaval coral reef, and has no lagoon. There are small mountains not seen in other Tuamotu such as the Aetia (90m) and the Putiare (110m).

Rangiroa is the largest atoll in the Tuamotu islands. The lagoon is world famous for scuba diving and snorkeling, and has the clearest waters in the world.

Kia-Ora Village located in east of Avatoru.

A combination of a yacht and a classical flying boat against the background of islets (motu) scattered in the lagoon.

Air Tahiti ATR 42, approaching Rangiroa airport.

Manihi is located in the northeast of Rangiroa. Facing northeast/southwest, Manihi forms an oval with a length of 27 km and a width of about 8 km. With clear lagoon, this island is famous worldwide for the cultivation of black pearl. The circumference of the atoll is dense with coconut palm trees. Manihi is an beautiful atoll that is suitable to calling the necklace island.

Ahe is located in 15 km west from Manihi. Ahe is 20 km long and 10 km wide. The large passage, named Tiareroa, which connects the lagoon with the open ocean can be seen on the left side. Ahe forms a beautiful neckless atoll as well as Rangiroa.