Mitiaro

▪ island, Cook Islands, Pacific Ocean

      island in the southern Cook Islands, a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand in the South Pacific Ocean. It is a raised coral atoll and is encircled by a reef. Its interior of fertile volcanic soil, ringed by swamps and limestone, supports the growing of copra, bananas, and citrus fruits. The centre of the island is almost flat and is quite swampy; it contains two freshwater lakes teeming with eels (itiki) and tilapia, the latter of which were originally imported from Africa and are known locally as bream. Area (land only) 8.6 square miles (22.3 square km). Pop. (2006 prelim.) 219.

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