Guide Souvenir de Bora Bora [antikvár]

= A nostalgic look at one ol the posters of the Office du Tourisme, cIrcaWBO, photo by A Sylvaln. 6 Regard nostalgique sur une des affiches de iODT, des années I960 par A Sylvain 4 NEARLY EISIGULFED VOLCAMO The island of Bora Bora came Into existence a little less than five million years ago. A submarine volcanic eruption ended by bursting through the surface of the sea and giving birth to this rock mass. With the passage of time, the island sank under its weight into the mantle of the earth's crust. Of its past grandeur but a slender souvenir remained — the ring of coral that encircled it, and that today forms the barrier reef enclosing the lagoon. After a few million more years, the rocky central island itself will have totally disappeared, leaving only its ring of coral as witness to what the earth's fire built here, long ago. Bora Bora will be nothing more than an atoll, similar to its neighbor, Tupai IM THE BEGIMMMG WERE THE "iM40H/" Sailing from Raiatea, the mystic sacred island of the Maohi, the first inhabitants of Bora Bora landed from their huge double canoes around ten centuries ago. The then kings succeeded each other, in constant rivalry with their neighbors. Two of these sovereigns left their names to posterity: Firiamata, the first king of Bora Bora founded the Vavau dynasty. He was renowned for his understanding of navigation, and, even today, a number of Maohi and Maori islands trace their origins back to this seafaring ruler. Some time later, Puni, a famous warrior king, passed into posterity for having extended his dominance over the neighboring islands of Maupiti and Tahaa, and, finally, over the sacred island of Raiatea, itself.