Mangareva
p. 47 · Read in the full issue
Volcanic Mangareva
Mangareva is the largest of the four main islands of the Gambler Archipelago. The islands, which are the tops of an ancient volcano, are steep and bare, except for a kind of cane. The highest point, Mt. Duff, is 1,325 ft high.
The group is enclosed in a barrier reef about 40 miles in circumference. Mangareva is about five miles long. Rikitea, the main settlement, has the only well-sheltered anchorage.
A few years ago, the anchorage was accessible only to vessels drawing less than 12 ft, but it was thought then that by clearing part of the lagoon of coral heads a good anchorage for large ships could be made.