Bora Bora - South Pacific Atoll as Seen From Space

Bora Bora and other western members of the Society Islands can be seen peeking through the broken cloud cover of the South Pacific.

A cloud-free day rarely occurs across French Polynesia. When NASA’s Aqua satellite passed over the Society Islands of the South Pacific on the morning of May 5, 2009, it happened to capture a rare glimpse from space of one of the world’s most exclusive holiday destinations.

The most idyllic of all the tourist islands of the South Seas is arguably the atoll of Bora Bora.

Located 140 miles northwest of Tahiti in the Leeward group of the Society Islands, it is the remnants of an extinct volcano surrounded by a lagoon and barrier reef.

The islands’ first inhabitants were Polynesian settlers who arrived about the 4th century. In 1842, Bora Bora was made a protectorate of France, and it is still one of that country’s overseas territories.

Visible in the enlarged portion of the satellite image to the upper right is a chain of over-the-water bungalows constructed on stilts and stretching over the lagoon.

The first such structures were built in 1961 as part of the Hotel Bora Bora. Over-water bungalows are now a standard feature of most Bora Bora resorts.

Many offer a striking view of the twin peaks of Mount Otemanu at the heart of the central island. The contrast of its lush vegetation against the azure hues of the lagoon provide what many have described as an “emotional experience” when first seen.

Image: NASA MODIS Rapid Response System