Cook Islands Profile
The Cook Islands is a country that is made up of 15 separate Islands. There are 12 inhabited Islands and 3 uninhabited Islands spread over a Pacific ocean area of approximately 1.83million square kilometres, but land area is only 240 square kilometres in total. The Cook Islands has a population of approximately 19500 (2006 Census) people. Its capital is Avarua on the main Island of Rarotonga (visit other Islands on this website). The main religion is Christianity and many Cook Islanders go to their own local Christian churches. The main languages are Cook Islands Maori and English.
The friendliness of the local people, the scent of local flowers is always in the air along with beautiful ocean waters and the white sandy beaches, makes the Cook Islands a lovely place to live, visit and enjoy.
The Cook Islands were settled in the 13th Century by Polynesian people from nearby Islands such as Tahiti and Samoa. Europeans arrived approximately around 1773 and Christianity was brought to the Cook Islands by the London Missionary Society with the conversion of a number of important Ariki (Chiefs).
Culture
The Cook Islands culture lives on through the languages, the traditions and customs of the people and is retained in the vibrant performance of songs and dances both in the community and in the church.
