Tema Reef
Tema Reef, also called Tima Reef, is a submerged coral reef in the northern island group of the Cook Islands, 23 kilometres (14 miles) southeast of Pukapuka coral atoll. No coral or rock shows above water, but the sea breaks heavily over the reef. Tema Reef measures about 550 by 360 metres (1,800 by 1,180 feet), covering a shallow but submerged area of 0.16 square kilometres (0.06 square miles).
11°05′S 165°38′W / 11.083°S 165.633°W Tema Reef, also called Tima Reef, is a submerged coral reef in the northern island group of the Cook Islands, 23 kilometres (14 miles) southeast of Pukapuka coral atoll.
No coral or rock shows above water, but the sea breaks heavily over the reef.[1] Tema Reef measures about 550 by 360 metres (1,800 by 1,180 feet), covering a shallow but submerged area of 0.16 square kilometres (0.06 square miles).[2]
History
[edit]Legend has it that Tima, an Aitutakian warrior sailed to Nassau, but was chased away by Ngalewu, a chief from Pukapuka. On his return to Aitutaki he passed the reef nearby and named it Te Toka-O-Tima, the Stone of Tima
The reef was sighted by Commodore John Byron on June 21, 1765. Captain William Williams of the missionary ship John Williams sighted the reef on May 15, 1864. It was again examined by HMS Alert in 1880.[3][2]
References
[edit]- ^ "THE LINE ISLANDS, THE COOK ISLANDS, THE SAMOA ISLANDS, AND THE TONGA ISLANDS (INCLUDING OFF-LYING ISLANDS AND REEFS)" (PDF). Permanent.access.gpo.gov. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Pukapuka Island". Janeresture.com. Archived from the original on 16 October 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
- ^ "16. Tima Reef - NZETC". Nzetc.org. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
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