Bora Bora (atoll)
Bora Bora (French: Bora-Bora; Tahitian: Pora Pora) is one of the Leeward Islands, of the Society Islands, French Polynesia. The true spelling of her name was Pora Pora ('first born' in Tahitian). She is also called May ti pora (& # 39; created by the gods & # 39;).
It is an atoll-type island of 29.3 square kilometers with a mountainous central zone that is surrounded by a barrier of coral reef and islets. It houses the Bora Bora airport.
History
Antiquity
According to a legend, Bora Bora would have been the first island extracted from the ocean after the creation of Havai'i (currently known as Raiatea), hence its name, which should be pronounced Pora Pora and which would have meant: he was born first. Bora Bora would thus be the second island colonized by the Eastern Polynesian people, after the first, which would be the island of Raiatea.
No archaeological site on Bora Bora is as old today as those on Maupiti and Huahine (around AD 900). It is considered that it may be that the first Polynesian peoples settled around that time, and that they came from the islands of Samoa and/or Tonga. According to archaeological excavations carried out on other islands of the Marquesas archipelago, it is also possible that the first settlers settled around the IV century. , before they came to populate all of Eastern Polynesia; but new results could call into question this theory and show that, as tradition holds, the nearby island of Raiatea was the first center of dispersal of Eastern Polynesians.
The hypothesis of Austronesian migrations from Southeast Asia is supported by numerous linguistic, biological, and archaeological evidence. For example, the languages of Fiji and Polynesia belong to the same Oceanic subgroup, Fiji-Polynesian, which is part of the large family of Austronesian languages.
This migration, across several hundred kilometers of ocean, was made possible by the use of outrigger canoes that could reach several tens of meters in length and transport families, root-balled plants in baskets, and domestic animals. Thus, in 1769, James Cook observed a 33-meter-long ship in Tahiti, able to navigate under sail or with oars. In 2010, an expedition on a simple outrigger canoe under sail successfully made the settlement voyage in reverse, from Tahiti to Asia.
In any case, it can be thought that the first inhabitants of Bora Bora had brought with them, as in other Polynesian archipelagos, the dog, the pig, the chicken, the rat and different useful plants that they knew how to cultivate. The remains that historians and archaeologists have found also show that they also knew how to extract part of the sea's resources and that they were experts in the art of carving stone to make tools. What seems to have been forgotten was the art of pottery, which had been known to their distant ancestors: the western Polynesians.
In Bora Bora -as in the other islands of the Society- a stratified tribal society arose, divided into eight districts, the cause of constant rivalries and wars between the tribes. The eight tribes were (clockwise from north to south): Hitiaa, Tipoto, Anau, Atitia, Amanahune (Faʻanui), Nunue and Tevaitapu on the main island and Ativahia on the large Tooupua motu in the west. Of these, the three sub-communities (Communes associées) Anau, Faʻanui and Nunue remain the current political division.
An outward sign of a very warlike society are two forts at Pahia, the remains of which are still visible today. They consisted of an elaborate system of earthen and stone walls, moats, and platforms.
Bora Bora until the 18th century
It is a small island but, at the same time, it was a religious and warlike power. The history of Bora-Bora is characterized by the rivalry of two clans, the first located in the area of Faanui, which brought together the families attached to the place of worship of the Polynesian gods or "marae" of Farerua; and the second grouping the families of Nunue and Anau, around the Vaiotaha "marae". This Vaiotaha marae was moreover for a long time one of the most important religious centers in Polynesia.
Bora-Bora on the other hand was also characterized by the rivalry with the island of Raiatea for the hegemony of religious power. Until a certain time, a certain parallelism of the institutions between Bora Bora and Raiatea is distinguished, which suggests that the two islands jointly exercise religious and political power over the other Leeward Islands. However, it is Raiatea that ends up being the center of religious power, to the detriment of Bora-Bora.
On the other hand, the island of Bora-Bora retains a particularly powerful war power, which is expressed both in internal wars between the Bora-Bora clans and in external wars with the inhabitants of the rival islands.
Dutch explorer Jakob Roggeveen makes the first documented mention of the island in 1722. James Cook reports it in 1769 and 1777.
Missionary and explorer Daniel Tyerman describes the fortifications on the atoll, which were still intact in the first half of the 19th century
That morning we visited two "pari", as the natives call them, on the high mountain of Pahia. It was burdas fortifications on the last accessible hillsides of the mountain. They enclosed a considerable area, divided with strong walls that not only functioned as mere limits, but were well equipped with ammunition to repel the enemies that went up. They were separated by paths and spread throughout a rocky crest. Each fortress has 800 m in length and consists of rudimentary but effective fortifications, well adapted to the environment and the way to make the war of the natives. The area has trees of the bread, coconut trees, bananas and other fruit trees, as well as water sources, so a besieged garnish could resist for months. It must have been very difficult for the attackers to get the fortress surrendered or raided."- Rev. Daniel Tyerman
Independent Kingdom
Bora Bora was a sovereign state in the 19th century, annexed to France in 1895, during the rule of Queen Teriimaevarua III and the main heads of the kingdom.
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In the 18th century, a great chief emerged, named Puni (Teihotu Matarua), who managed to dominate the other clans from the island of Bora-Bora. He then allied with the leaders of the island of Tahaa (located between Bora Bora and Raiatea). With this alliance, he managed to dominate the Raiatea, Tahaa and Maupiti islands. In 1769, when James Cook landed on Tahaa and Raiatea, the islands were already under Puni suzerainty. Upon Puni's death, his nephew Tapoa I, supreme chief of Bora-Bora, Raiatea and Tahaa, settled in Raiatea, thus leaving the local power of Bora Bora to the chieftains May and Tefaaora, originally from the towns of Nunue and Anau, and attached to the Marae of Vaiotaha.
In the 1810s, Chief May and 262 warlike warriors allied with Pomare II of Tahiti in his fight against the Tahitian clan of Teva. In 1815, the battle from Fe'i Pi to Punaauia (on the island of Tahiti) signifies the victory of the Protestant party (Pomare II who converts in 1812) against the traditionalist party. Christianity thus becomes the religion of the victors, and upon their return to Bora Bora in 1816, the Bora Bora warriors who fought on Tahiti share their knowledge of this new religion with the rest of the population. The success was such that in 1818, the inhabitants of Bora Bora asked the missionaries of the islands of Moorea and Huahine for evangelical books and Protestant pastors to teach the new religion.
Reverend Orsmond visited the island for the first time this year, and settled in Bora-Bora in 1820. On May 12, 1820, Tamatoa III, chief of Raiatea, established a missionary code of obedience made up of 25 articles which are inspired by the Tahiti code (the Pomare code) and provide for the methods of applying justice. The same year, Chief May introduces this legislative code in Bora-Bora and extends it to Maupiti. In 1822, the Bora-Bora church was inaugurated in Vaitape, in the Nunue district.
At the end of the 1820s, a large part of the population of Bora-Bora joined the Mamaia movement. This millennial movement, born on the island of Raiatea, merges the old beliefs and the new religion and questions the authority of the Protestant missionaries. When in 1826 the main leaders of this Raiatea movement were rejected, the heresy spread throughout the Leeward Islands, including Bora-Bora.
The Mamaia sect gained such influence over Tahaa and Bora-Bora that in the 1830s these two islands joined forces to engage in a war against those of Raiatea and Huahine, which remained faithful to the missionaries. The Chief Tapoa II, responsible for the alliance and great chief of Tahaa was nevertheless defeated, and his wife Pomare IV, queen of Tahiti, separated from him in 1831. Tapoa II moved and then settled in Bora-Bora as great head of the island, at the request of the May and Tafaaora clans. Tapoa II remains, however, on good terms with his ex-wife Pomare IV, and even, in 1841, adopts one of his daughters, Teriimaevarua, whom he designates as her heir.
When in 1842, the kingdom of Tahiti was placed under the protectorate of France, Bora-Bora was not included and it did not suffer the disorders that they provoked. However, Bora Bora takes advantage of the repercussions of the Pritchard affair, since, in order to put an end to the Franco-British dispute, French King Louis-Philippe ratifies the Jarnac Convention of June 19, 1847, which recognizes the independence of the Leeward Islands, including Bora-Bora. The two great colonial powers agree not to take possession of these islands, not even to place them under protectorate. It is, therefore, on an independent island that Tapoa II reigns until his death in 1860.
Annexation to France
Under the reign of Teriimaevarua II, the international situation changed. Indeed, the Jarnac agreement, guaranteeing the independence of the Leeward Islands, only commits its two signatories, France and Great Britain. Now then, from 1878, Germany seems to be closely interested in the Leeward Islands.
In 1879, the Germans try to establish alliances with Raiatea and Bora-Bora. The two islands refuse, and Teriimaevarua II informs the French Government of the German attempt. For France, it becomes urgent to repeal the Jarnac agreement, in order to prevent the installation of a rival power at the gates of its colony, all the more so than with the prospect of a future Panama Canal, which would make the position of the Society Islands became strategic.
To face the German attempts, Raiatea and Tahaa moreover request the protection of France in 1880. Between 1880 and 1887, these two islands are placed under the provisional protectorate of France. In the first place, the heads of clans and the Queen of Bora-Bora declare themselves ready to accept the French protectorate, pending an agreement with the British. Later, they will be hostile to a questioning of their independence by France.
During this time, France and England negotiated the abrogation of the Jarnac agreement, which occurred in October 1887. This entailed the annexation of the Leeward Islands by France, on March 19, 1898, and Bora-Bora ceases to be independent and becomes a French territory. It is necessary, however, to emphasize that contrary to the inhabitants of the former kingdom of Tahiti, the inhabitants of Bora-Bora are not granted French citizenship. Like the other inhabitants of the Leeward Islands, the islanders become subject to the indigenous regime.
World War II
During World War II, and to face the Japanese invasion during the Pacific War (1937-1945), the US Army installed a military base on the island, under the name of "Operation Bobcat". Starting in 1942, nearly 5,000 soldiers and auxiliary services, supported by a military force of nine ships, and with 20,000 tons of material, took possession of the island, taking advantage of its strategic location and its special shape that allows easy defense thanks to its natural features.
During this period, the Americans carry out work on the island: construction of an airstrip on the Motu Mute, modernization of the road network, seaplane base, adaptation of the Vaitape docks, creation of a power generation plant electric power. The island is fortified and 7 powerful coastal defense guns (still visible) as well as anti-aircraft are installed at strategic locations around the island to protect it against a potential Japanese military attack. The airstrip was the largest in Polynesia. However, the island did not witness any combat on its territory since the US presence on the island of Bora Bora and the allied advances allowed the distance from the war fronts.
The official closure of the Bora Bora military base took place on June 2, 1946. Despite everything, many Americans liked their experience on the island of Bora Bora, and the town that had welcomed them, and some decided to stay and others returned later as tourists, and they still make up an important part of their visits today. Unfortunately, this opening of Bora Bora to the outside could distort the island: Immigration, saturation in the construction of hotels, loss of identity, there are those who believe that the island lost "its original authenticity from before the war", which can still be seen in other islands like Raiatea or Tahaa for example.
At the end of the war, and with the resolution of the French government on March 24, 1945, the inhabitants of Bora Bora obtained French citizenship. Starting in 1958, the runway of the airport built by the Americans allows the opening of a connection between Paris and Bora Bora. This new airline allowed the arrival of the first tourists to the island. But it is the transformation of the runway, as well as the consequent opening in 1961 of the Tahiti Faa'a international airport, on the island of Tahiti, which is really going to allow the development of mass tourism in Bora Bora. The first hotel opens the same year, in the south of the island. On May 17, 1972, Bora Bora then accessed the status of a municipality. This new legal and administrative figure is an essential stage for the development of the island.
Geography
It is found in the so-called Society Islands, which are part of French Polynesia; and is located northwest of Tahiti, about 260 km northwest of Papeete, Tahiti. It also has various motus around it, which are small elongated islets that usually have a certain width and vegetation. One of the most beautiful and photographed motus in Polynesia is the motu Tapu, especially before a hurricane blew away part of the sand tongues at its ends..
Dimensions
This atoll of the Society archipelago is quite small: the main island is only 8 km from north to south and 5 km from east to west; Bora-Bora's total area, including islets, is less than 39 km². Bora Bora has an extension of 29.3 km² on the central mountainous island, which is an extinct volcano, in turn surrounded by a lagoon separated from the sea by a reef. The highest point is Mount Otemanu, at 727 meters.
Geographic description
Bora Bora was formed by an extinct volcano, surrounded by a lagoon and a fringe of reef. Its summit is Mount Otemanu (727 m) located in the center of the atoll; another summit, mount Pahia, on the main island, reaches 661 meters of altitude.
The main island has three open bays on the lagoon: Faanui Bay, Tuuraapuo Bay or Povai Bay to the west, and Hitiaa Bay to the northwest. Tuuraapuo Bay separates the main island from two volcanic islets: Toopua and Toopua-iti.
Neck-shaped coral reefs surround the central island and protect it from the open sea like a dyke. It is a barrier reef, which only has one opening on the ocean: the Teavanui pass, located to the west of the main island, which allows most large cargo ships and cruise ships to enter the lagoon.
They should, however, stay in a channel as outside of it, much of the water in the lagoon is shallow. The barrier reef is very wide in some of its sections, where it exceeds two kilometers in width to the southwest of the island. To the east and north of the island, the reef supports a series of islets made up of coral ruins and sand (the motu). Precisely, on one of them that is located to the north, the Motu Mute, is where the US army built an important air base during the Second World War, and which has now become the Bora-Bora airport.
The lagoon, very abundant in fishing, is notable for its breadth and beauty. Its color varies with depth: deep indigo where depth is important (Teavanui Pass, Poofai and Faanui Bays), all pastel shades of blue and green elsewhere. Corals, when they are very close to the surface, together with the fauna that colonizes them, come to wear a wide variety of colors: egg yolk, red, blue or purple.
Geological origin
Bora Bora is part of a group of volcanic islands linked to hazardous area activity. It is an extinct volcano, which was active in the Upper Pliocene (between 3.45 and 3.10 million years), which later suffered at least a partial depression and strong erosion under a hot and humid tropical climate.
Tuuraapuo Bay was the main crater of the volcano, whose collapsed southwest rim still only exists on the islets or "motu" Toopua and Toopua-iti, which culminate respectively at 148 m and 17 m above sea level. the volcanic rocks are of the basaltic type (essentially alkaline basalts and some hawaiites, as well as some gabbro intrusions, especially on Toopua islet). They come mainly from castings, explosive episodes being very rare.
Climate
Bora Bora enjoys a warm climate year-round, with average temperatures between 22°C and 30°C.
The rainy season is between November and April, with a stuffy atmosphere and some sometimes violent storms that give rise to heavy rains. These rains can last several days, but this does not prevent many sunny days during the wet season. The humidity level usually ranges from 75% to 90%, and sometimes reaches 100%. The dry season is between April and October, with a hot and fairly dry climate, but the trade winds are sometimes strong. The days are still sunny, but although the dry season is present, this does not prevent the appearance of some showers or even storms in the afternoon.
During the dry season, the average humidity level remains between 45 and 60%, but sometimes this level rises spontaneously to 80%, especially at night, when the ground heat is still high and exceeds a certain threshold. These "dry season" they will take place in the afternoon.
 Average climate parameters of Bora Bora, French Polynesia | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Ene. | Feb. | Mar. | Open up. | May. | Jun. | Jul. | Ago. | Sep. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | Annual |
| Average temperature (°C) | 30.0 | 30.2 | 30.5 | 30.3 | 29.5 | 28.6 | 28.1 | 28.1 | 28.6 | 29.1 | 29.4 | 29.6 | 29.3 |
| Temp. medium (°C) | 25.1 | 25.3 | 25.5 | 25.5 | 25.1 | 24.2 | 23.8 | 23.8 | 24.0 | 24.3 | 24.7 | 24.8 | 24.7 |
| Rains (mm) | 268.7 | 233.2 | 176.9 | 182.7 | 129.8 | 98.2 | 83.3 | 59.7 | 65.5 | 99.8 | 203.7 | 280.6 | 1882.1 |
| Hours of sun | 201.1 | 202.6 | 239.4 | 219.8 | 224.1 | 224.5 | 231.8 | 248.4 | 241.0 | 230.5 | 217.7 | 207.0 | 2687.9 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Bora Bora has 42 days of storms a year, more than 4 months of rain a year and 56 days of dry winds.
Flora
In the lowland regions, relatively densely populated and intensively used for a Polynesian atoll, little remains of the original vegetation. In contrast, the flora of the high and rugged mountains, difficult to access, remains largely virgin.
The back beach areas are lined with Cordia subcordata and Hibiscus tiliaceus, low-lying and heavily vegetated. A cultivated form, the Hibiscus tiliaceus var. sterilis, with a straight trunk and a handsome rounded crown, is often planted as roadside vegetation.
Up to the foot of the steep mountainous region there are mainly cultivated lands with plantations of coconut palms, breadfruit trees, Tahiti chestnuts (Inocarpus), cassava (Manihot), tropical fruits, as well as orchid plantations for hotel decoration tourist. Abandoned areas have been conquered by overgrowing guavas and the fern Dicranopteris linearis. The crevices and ridges of the island's mountains are covered by still little-disturbed remnants of the island's original vegetation. These include groves of metrosideros, stands of Wikstroemia coriácea, a species of the daphne family endemic to Polynesia, and some species of Glochidion. The damp, shady crevices are densely populated with ferns. Several endemic or native species existed in large numbers until relatively recently. However, upon introduction to the island of Lissachatina, Euglandina, and various flatworms, they wiped out populations of the endemic partuleid species Partula lutea in the late 1990s), Samoana attenuata (a species once considered native to Bora Bora but not subsequently found in studies conducted on the island), and Mautodontha boraborensis (a critically endangered species as of 1996, but most likely extinct, as it was last seen on the island). 1880s). The native and endemic species mentioned above were mostly restricted to virgin forest, and the only species that remain common (perhaps even extant) are various subulinids and tornatellids among others, including Orobophana pacifica (a helicinid).
Wildlife
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Many species of sharks and rays inhabit the strip of water that surrounds the island. There are dive operators that offer dives to watch the fish and see how the sharks feed. In addition to the existing islets on Bora Bora, there is a new man-made area in the northeast corner of the lagoon on the property of the St. Regis Resort.
There is a wide variety of arthropods in the atoll, such as coconut crabs, hermit crabs, lobsters, land crabs, blue crabs, galley crabs, among others.
Demographics
In 2012 the population was 9,858 inhabitants, which increased to 10,605 according to 2017 estimates.
Religion
Christianity has been the dominant religion since the arrival of Christian missionaries in the 19th century when it replaced the old ones traditional beliefs that Europeans considered idolatry. Vaitape was founded by British missionary John Muggridge Orsmond (1788-1856) of the London Missionary Society. He came to Bora Bora from Tahiti in 1824 and built first a church and then a jetty, roads and houses, as well as a missionary school made of coral rock. This settlement, called "Beulah", became what is now Vaitape.
With the establishment of the French protectorate, the presence of the Catholic Church was reinforced and currently it administers a church in the capital of the island (Vaitape) called the Church of Saint Peter Celestine (Église de Saint-Pierre- Célestin). This depends on the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Papeete based in Tahiti.
Numerous pre-Christian relics of the native Polynesians of Bora Bora are still preserved today: Remains of 13 ceremonial platforms (marae) - before there were more than forty - and many petroglyphs, which, however, are mostly hidden in inaccessible bushes The best preserved ceremonial site is the Marae Fare Opu in Faʻanui Bay, located directly on the beach. Today the road runs through the area so the overview of the site, which is quite large, has been lost. The site consisted of a rectangular and level area, bounded by stones and a stone platform. The rectangular platform is delimited by limestone slabs more than 1 m high and filled with earth. Two of the slabs on the north side feature stone carvings with turtle motifs.
Languages
French, as in the rest of France, is the only official language and this, together with Tahitian, are the main languages spoken by its inhabitants in common, however people in contact with tourists generally have some basic knowledge of English. Most visitors to Bora Bora are American, Australian, Japanese, or European.
Politics and Government
The Atoll has been part of France since the 19th century, its island capital being Vaitape. The nearby and uninhabited Tupai Atoll is an administrative dependency of Bora Bora. Bora Bora is also a municipality, which includes the island of Bora Bora, and the Tupai atoll. The mayor of Bora Bora has been Gaston Tong Sang since July 9, 1989.
Today, Bora Bora is politically part of French Polynesia. The island is a French overseas territory, but is not part of the European Union. It is administered by a subdivision (Subdivision administrative des Îles sous le Vent) of the High Commission of the Republic in French Polynesia (Haut-commissariat de la République en Polynésie française) with headquarters in Papeete. Bora Bora is one of seven municipalities in the Leeward Islands Administrative Subdivision, which is further subdivided into the three sub-municipalities (Communes associées) Nunue, Faʻanui (plus Tupai Atoll, further north), and Anau. The currency is the CFP franc, which is linked to the euro.
Economy
Like most of the Polynesian islands, Bora Bora bases its economy essentially on fishing and tourism. The most important tourist centers are located on the motu and are frequented by thousands of visitors every year. Because of its beauty, Bora Bora is called the "pearl of the Pacific".
Tourism
Today the island is almost totally dependent on tourism. In recent years several tourist centers have been built on the islets of the reef (motu) that surrounds the lagoon. In the 1980s, the Hotel Bora Bora built the first over-the-water, small houses on stilts in the lagoon and today this type of construction is a standard feature at most Bora Bora resorts. The quality of the casitas ranges from comparatively cheap, with basic accommodation conditions, to very luxurious places.
Most of the tourist destinations are aquacentric, however, it is possible to visit other attractions, such as some WWII cannons. Air Tahiti has five or six daily flights to the Bora Bora Motu Mute airport on Tahiti (as well as to other islands).
Called "the pearl of the Pacific", it is one of the most visited islands in French Polynesia. It is also considered one of the 10 most beautiful islands in the world. Each year, Bora Bora sees approximately 20,000 tourists disembark. A pressure that the island seems to control since, in Paris in November 2007, it received the "Marianne d'Or" award, rewarding its action in protecting the environment.
Bora Bora was distinguished in 2012 and 2013 by the blue flag of Europe for the fifth consecutive year thanks to its efforts in terms of water management (water desalination, collective treatment of wastewater from hotels and individuals) and conservation enviroment. A turtle-oriented marine life observation center was created in 2011.
Bora Bora is as famous as Tahiti. The island is the symbol of Polynesian tourism and its notoriety radiates across the continents. For many, it is the embodiment of paradise on earth, making it a favorite destination for honeymoons.
The price level is exorbitantly high, Bora Bora is one of the most expensive destinations in the world with triple-digit daily prices. Several luxury hotels are located on the reef beds and offer so-called overwater bungalows, built on stilts in the lagoon.
Through a glass table, you can observe the colorful coral fish during breakfast, which is carried out in outrigger canoes. Today, Bora Bora is frequently visited by cruise ships, often as part of their round-the-world tour. Ships usually anchor in deep water off Vaitape because the small dock in the port is not suitable for this. Passengers are brought ashore and liven up otherwise quiet island life for a few hours.
Places of Interest
The place where modern Belfast stands has been occupied since the Bronze Age. The archaeological site known as Giant's Ring (Giant's Ring), located very close to the city, is 5,000 years old and remains of fortifications can still be seen dating from the Iron Age on the hills surrounding the city.
It became a major settlement in the 17th century when large numbers of English and Scottish settlers settled there in the process of colonizing Ulster, with the aim of eradicating Ulster's Catholic population. In 1641, the Catholics revolted, but were harshly suppressed. Belfast flourished as an important commercial and industrial center during the 18th and 19th centuries and became the most industrialized city in Ireland surpassing even Dublin thanks to its shipyards, textile and tobacco industries among others. The Harland and Wolff shipyards became the largest in the world, employing up to 35,000 workers. The tragically famous RMS Titanic was built at these shipyards.
Belfast has been the capital of Northern Ireland since the creation of this administrative region in 1920 by the Government of Ireland Act of 1920. Since then it has grown in number of inhabitants and has witnessed clashes in its Catholic citizens (mostly "nationalists", in favor of independence from the United Kingdom) and Protestants (or "loyalists", who oppose any process that would lead to seceding from the British Empire).
Belfast was bombed three times during World War II by Luftwaffe bombers. The bombing raid that caused the most damage occurred on the night of April 15, 1941, when 200 bombers, including Heinkel He 111s, Junkers and Dorniers, attacked the city without meeting significant resistance. It is estimated that about a thousand people died during the bombardment or from injuries sustained during it. In addition, some 100,000 people lost their homes. Although shipyards and aircraft factories were affected, they quickly recovered as demand for ships and aircraft was high. This, of course, meant the rapid recovery of the Belfast economy.
On 21 July 1972, the Provisional IRA detonated 22 bombs in and around the city, killing nine people, including two policemen, and wounding 130 others. In addition to the British Army and local police, the IRA The provisional warfare faced two paramilitary groups: the Ulster Defense Association and the Ulster Volunteer Force. Until 1994, sporadic clashes between the two forces took place in Belfast. Although the ceasefire between both sides has no longer unleashed violence in the city, the city maintains an important component of segregation between the Republican Catholic population and the unionist Protestant population.
Car rental and bicycles are the recommended means of transportation. There are also helicopter tours, and all-terrain vehicle or catamaran rentals in Vaitape. Snorkeling and scuba diving in and around the Bora Bora lagoon are popular activities.
On the main island, a public bus (Le Truck) goes around the island in about an hour via the ring road. Stops are not necessary, the bus stops where the passengers want. However, the means of transport preferred by tourists are bicycles and mopeds or motorbikes and the transport service offered by some hotels. In Vaitape you can rent small electric cars. There is a private helicopter stationed on the island, which is used for tourist flights.
Sports
On the sporting side, Bora Bora is, along with neighboring Huahine, Raiatea and Tahaa, one of the four islands where the Hawaiki Nui Va'a is held, an international canoe competition (va'a) Polynesian.
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