Flat Stanley and Flat Hal might not worry much about sunburns, but they travel with someone who does. Today we spent a lot of time finding shade as we walked beneath a powerful mid-day sun to see what this charming community had to offer.
We found incredibly kind locals, children swimming, playing and enjoying ice cream with their families, and more fantastic views of the ocean.
As in Aitutaki, the water was several different shades of blue and green, creating a unique work of art that was amazing to see. The water around islands like these appears so many differ colors for a few reasons… (with a little help from AI) the ocean around Rarotonga is influenced by many factors, including:
Sunlight
Sunlight scatters across water molecules, making the ocean appear blue. Longer wavelengths of sunlight appear red and orange, while shorter wavelengths appear blue and green.
Microscopic algae
The ocean can appear green due to microscopic algae that grows near the surface of the ocean.
Depth
In shallow areas, some green wavelengths of light remain, creating green-blue hues.
Other factors that can affect the color of the ocean include: The ocean floor, Phytoplankton, Sediment and runoff, and Tiny plant and animal life.
