The Northern Group Islands

The Northern Group of the Cook Islands is made up of six coral atolls that are scattered over a vast expanse of the South Pacific Ocean. All low lying groups of islands, the Northern Group cannot be seen by the naked eye unless you are just 10 km away. The first of the Cook Islands to be discovered by Polynesians voyagers from Tonga and Samoa more than 2000 years ago, these islands remained uninhabited for several centuries and were only discovered by Western explorers in the 1600’s.

The Northern Group comprises of the following atolls:

• Manihiki Atoll
• Rakahanga Atoll
• Penrhyn Atoll
• Pukapuka Atoll
• Nassau
• Suwarrow Atoll, which is also the only national park in the Cook Islands.

Today, scientists believe that the Northern Group of the Cook Islands are at imminent risk from the effects of global warming. Since all these atolls are low-lying, severe cyclones and huge waves have been known to wash right across them. And, as the sea levels all over the world continue to rise, researchers fear that soon these atolls will be no more. According to estimates, within the next century, the Northern Group will no longer be habitable or safe to live on, meaning that the many people who live here will be forced to find new homes.