21 April 2024 Makatea

We called in to Makatea which is a raised atoll, southwest of Rangiroa.  It is often difficult to land here as the swell into the little harbour is too much for a tender.  Amazingly we were able to shoot our little boat into the landing.  Jean and Patrick had investigated first.  The island was the centre of phosphate mining from the end of the 19th century until the mid 1960s, and the evidence of abandoned mining equipment is all over the little island - apparently 11 million tonnes of phosphates were extracted from the island.   We walked up to the top of the island, where there was the inevitable Mairie and 2 churches.  It seemed to be a place popular with backpackers as there were a few hostels.  It was good to stop for a while - we stayed about 4 and set off for the big trip to Tahiti.