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The 15 Cook Islands are divided into the Northern Group (Penrhyn, Manihiki, Pukapuka, Rakahanga, Nassau and Suwarrow) and the Southern Group (Rarotonga, Mangaia, Atiu, Mitiaro, Mauke, Aitutaki, Palmerston, Manuae, Takutea). There are 1,400 km between the northernmost island of Penrhyn and the southern-most island of Mangaia. Rarotonga, the main island, is 1,300 km away from Penrhyn. This sweeping spread of islands means that there are enormous administrative and infrastructural technicalities to deal with. Hence why, even before being annexed to the Cook Islands, the northern Cook Islands group were an independent unit. Even today they are relatively isolated from the southern group. The northern and southern islands differ geologically as well.
Whereas the northern group are mostly flat atolls, the southern
group is dominated by bold, awe-inspiring islands. Like Moorea or
Tahiti, Rarotonga has towering mountains originating from volcanoes.
Atiu, Mitiaro, Mauke and Mangaia are distinctive geological features
– they are former atolls which have been raised by tectonic
movements to more than 70 meters above sea level. The old reef belt
forms an embankment which runs around a stunning plateau in the
middle of the island. Palmerston, Manuae and Takutea are low-lying
atolls. Aitutaki’s geology is diverse: it is a volcanic island
surrounded by a coral atoll, home to a large lagoon.
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