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Manihiki
Known as the Island of
Pearls
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Manihiki sits atop an
underwater mountain rising 13,000 feet (4000 m) above the ocean
floor. In common with most atolls, Manihiki is flat and only a
few feet above sea level.
The export of black pearls
on Manihiki placed as the second biggest producer in the world
of these fascinating gems, earning on average $5.3miWon a year,
which includes the export of mother-of-pearl shell Not a bad
effort for fewer than 600 people who live on two inhabited
islands, Tukao and Tauhunu on either side of Manihiki’s
magnificent lagoon.
Pearl farms ingeniously sited on built-up
coral boulders seem to float over this vast water and are dotted
over the entire lagoon. Sizes vary, from large two-storied
buildings belonging to companies, to modest constructions owned
by small farmers. Some hobby farmers merely have pearl shell
lines stretched out, and like all other operations, the lines
are kept floating and visible to passing boats by buoys.
All the lines that crisscross the lagoon
are awaiting harvest time and hopefully the reward of quality
black pearls that will end up in jewelry worn all over the world
The optimum result is a
perfectly spherical Black Pearl
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