Rapa (Rapa Iti)
- ISS004-E-12979
- 04 June 2002
- 22:45 UTC
Located in the southeastern corner of the Tubuai Islands 525 km southeast from Raivavae and 175 km northwest from the rocky islets of Marotiri, Rapa is one of the most isolated populated islands on earth.
Volcanic in origins, this 40 km² island has been deeply eroded by rain and wind, forming steep ridges and valleys within the interior. Today, the former volcano reaches a height of 650 m. The rugged coastline is also heavily sculpted into a series of deep bays separated by high cliffs and headlands, formed by erosion and changes in sea level. On the eastern side of the island the wide Haurei Bay is the remains of a former caldera that has been breached by the sea.
Much of the island has suffered from overgrazing and tree felling (note the reddish brown areas in the image, devoid of greenery), creating a landscape of fragmented forest and savanna-like grasslands. Despite this, its remaining original vegetation of evergreen forest maintains a relatively high diversity of species, including the endemic Rapa Fruit-dove (Ptilinopus huttoni).
Found on the lower interior slopes of the caldera are outcrops of lignite — Rapa is one of only two oceanic Pacific Islands to have deposits of coal, the other being Babeldaob in Palau.
image: earth sciences and image analysis laboratory, nasa johnson space center
