Niue
VulcanSpirit
Richard & Alison Brunstrom
Fri 31 Aug 2012 18:15
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This small NZ dependency is a raised coral reef
sitting on top of an extinct volcano. It measures about 15 km by 10km and its
highest point is 69m above sea level. There is lots of fresh water because the
rainfall is well over 2000mm, but because it is limestone none of it is on the
surface. Underground is a lens of fresh water sitting in the impermeable caldera
containing the enormous volume of 4 cubic kilometres of water. Being a raised
reef rising out of 4000m of seawater the coast is extremely rugged - almost no
shelter, almost no bays or beaches, just miles and miles of amazingly jagged
limestone cliggs and caves. Landing is possible from the sea at only a couple of
places on the more sheltered west coast, but the island does have a solid flat
wave cut fringing reef about 100m wide round its entire
circumference.
There is a population of about 1500 people, 1000
locals and 500 incomers. When contacted by Europeans the population was probably
in excess of 5000, and it stayed that way until a series of devastating
hurricanes in the last fifty years caused most of the people to move to New
Zealand. Nowadays Miue is a self-governing part
of NZ with its own government. It is an extremely welcoming and friendly place.
We like it a lot; so much that we have stayed here longer than
intended.
Here is a typical coastal view:
 There are thousands of sea caves and arches. Here's
another, showing the width of the coastal reef:
 And here's a picture of the almost unbelievably
rough coastal rocks. This is limestone reef that has been eroded by the slightly
acidic rain to form vicious jagged pinnacles interspersed with gullies and
chasms. This territory is as close to impassable as anything on
earth.
 As a result, and in contrast to French Polynesia,
the whole of the coastline is undeveloped and is really
lovely.
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