Chatham Islands:
A bloom of phytoplankton—tiny photosynthetic organisms that become visible to satellites when their numbers explode—encircled the Chatham Islands in austral summer recently
- Chatham Islands is an island group in the South Pacific Ocean.
- These islands are New Zealand’s most easterly territory.
- Composed of 10 islands, they are primarily of volcanic formation, but areas of limestone indicate that they may once have been part of New Zealand.
- Only the two main islands are inhabited: Chatham Island and Pitt Island.
- Chatham Island, the largest of the islands, has a high southern tableland flanked by towering cliffs and a gentle northern portion encompassing extensive waterways, low peatlands and long sandy beaches.
- The Chatham Islands is the first inhabited place in the world to see the rising sun each day.
- The islands were first inhabited by Moriori, who named the islands ‘Rekohu’ – translated as ‘misty skies’ or ‘misty sun’.
- European sealers and whalers were next to arrive, followed by Māori from New Zealand, who named the islands ‘Wharekauri’.
- Descendants of Moriori still reside on the Chatham Islands today.
- The main settlement is Waitangi. Other settlements are Te One, Port Hutt, Kāingaroa, and Ōwenga.
- The economy of the Chatham Islands is heavily dependent on fishing, farming, and tourism.
