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By Islomaniac | July 31, 2007
Niue is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean about 2,400 kilometers northeast of New Zealand in a triangle between Tonga, Samoa and the Cook Islands. The island is 269 km² and is one of the world’s larges coral islands. The terrain of Niue consists of step limestone cliffs among the coast with a central plateau rising 60 meters above sea level. A coral reef surrounds the island with only major break in the reef being in the western coast, close to the capital of Alofi. Click below to read more.
The Island of Niue
Image source:
The first European to sight Niue was Captain James Cook in 1774. Cook made three attempts to land on the island but was refused permission to do so by the Polynesian inhabitants. The island was named “Savage Island” because, as legend has it, the natives who “greeted’ him were painted in what appeared to Cook and his crew to be blood.
The reputation of the island has changed drastically since then. The island is home to 1,492 friendly Polynesians who welcome tourists with open arms. The island is a self-governing country in a free association with New Zealand. Mot diplomatic relations are conducted by New Zealand on Niue’s behalf.
In January 2004, Niue was hit by Cyclone Heta, which killed two people and caused extensive damage to the entire island, wiping out most of the south capital, Alofi.
Niue has licensed the .nu top level domain on the internet to a private company, but the company and the government of Niue are now in dispute over the amount and type of compensation that Niue receives from the licensor.
Sources:
Niue official website
Wikipedia Niue Page
CIA-The World Fact Book
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