Tema Reef

11°05′S 165°38′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.

Not to be confused with Tenerife.

No coral or rock shows above water, but the sea breaks heavily over the reef.[1] The 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

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
  1. "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.
  2. "Pukapuka Island". Janeresture.com. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  3. "16. Tima Reef - NZETC". Nzetc.org. Retrieved 2 May 2017.


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