TAKUTEA
Uninhabited
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  Kia Orana

Population 0
0.5 sq mls
Takutea aerial
Nine miles north west of ATIU is the tiny coral cay of Takutea.  It's only 20 feet above sea level at the highest point and most of it is covered in coconut palms.   The island has been designated a wildlife sanctuary and special permission is needed to visit.
Red tailed tropicbird
Red footed boobie bird
Thousands of red tailed tropicbirds and red footed boobies(below left and right)  nest on the island, which is one of the most important sea bird breeding grounds in the Pacific region. Terns, noddies and frigatebirds are also found in large numbers. The kota or great frigatebird (centre) that nests there has become an unofficial emblem for the Cook Islands. 
Great Frigatebird
No doubt the birds have thrived because Takutea is the only island in the Cooks never to have had a permanent population. Even when Captain Cook sighted the island on 4 April, 1777 and some crew members went ashore, they found some huts but no evidence of a permanent settlement.  Copra cutters visit each year and feathers from the red-tailed tropicbird are gathered for traditional costumes.  The island is sometimes still called Enua-Iti which means Small Land.
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