Maupiti contains the westernmost tall island of the Society Islands archipelago, and also the smallest. But many have described the islets as the most beautiful of the South Pacific.

Its lack of deluxe accommodations and an established tourism infrastructure provide visitors an authentic feel of the South Seas not available on Bora Bora or Tahiti.

Like Bora Bora, Maupiti is slowly entering its atoll phase, in which a ring of coral reefs expands around an eroding ancient volcano. The process of atoll formation may take up to 20 million years to occur.

Remnants of the original volcano at Maupiti are apparent in Mount Teurafaatui, which still soars 1,250 feet above sea level.

Those who take the three-hour hike up to the summit are provided with a panoramic view of the lagoon, with Bora Bora often visible nearly 30 miles to the east.

Maupiti is accessible by plane via three weekly flights from Tahiti. A shuttle boat is also available from Bora Bora twice a week.

On November 27, 1997, the island was devastated by Cyclone Osea. About 95 percent of the buildings on Maupiti were destroyed, including the town hall, two schools, and an airfield. On Bora-Bora, only about 30 percent of the infrastructure was destroyed. But there were no reports of fatalities on either island.

The image to the upper right was captured on NASA’s Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite on August 8, 2009. Such a clear view is difficult to achieve most days due to the buildup of cumulus clouds that form due to tropical daytime heating.

Full story and image: NASA