Landmark· Rapa Iti· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs
Rapa Iti Ridge Forts (Pa)
27° 36.7′ S · 144° 21.8′ W
Rapa's rim is crowned by more than a dozen terraced hill forts (pa or pare), built as the population grew and fought over scarce land; Vancouver counted six around Ahurei Bay in 1791.
Practical
Coordinate is Putaketake fort (OSM) on a 381 m peak on the south rim east of Morongo Uta. OSM maps further pa at Tanga and Potatake/Pukutaketake above Area, Kaimaru, Kapitanga, Vairu and Ruatara on the northern rim, Pukumia on Mont Pukunia, and Teungarere south of Ha'urei; fr.wikipedia lists Mapitanga, Morongo Uta, Ororangi, Pukumanga, Pukutaketake, Ruatara, Tanga, Tevaitau and Vairu. Sources give 14 (en.wikipedia) to 15 (Pitufa) forts. Only Morongo Uta and Tevaitahu have well-maintained paths (see those entries); reaching the others needs a local guide and permission, as land is held communally. The Manatau reserve protects animals and forts in southern Rapa (en.wikipedia).
Best for
Archaeology on the caldera rim
Nearby
- Morongo Uta Fortified Village (Rapa Iti)0.6 NM away
- Mount Perahu Summit (Rapa Iti)1.1 NM away
- Tevaitau Fort Hike (Rapa Iti)1.2 NM away
- Ahurei Bay Inner Anchorage (west end, Rapa Iti)1.3 NM away
- Ha'urei Football Field Trailhead (Rapa Iti)1.5 NM away
- Ahurei Bay Anchorage (Rapa Iti)1.6 NM away
- Ahurei Main Dock and Fuel (Rapa Iti)1.7 NM away
- Ahurei Mooring 2 (Rapa Iti)1.7 NM away