Polynesian Garden of Eden
Northern Cook Islands, Cook Islands
The tiny island of Nassau is the only island in the northern group without a lagoon, it measures just 1.2 square kilometres square and only 9 metres above sea level.
The island is inhabited by fewer than 100 people who live in thatched cottages called Kikau. The land is abundant with taro and fruit groves, fish and shellfish are caught from the reef.
Nassau can be reached by inter-island boat from Pukapuka.
Background
Nassau originally belonged to the islanders of nearby Pukapuka and was called Te Nuku-o-Ngalewu which means "Land of Nagelu" after the Pukapukan who was put in charge of it. When the two islands fell out with each other, it was renamed "Deserted Island" (Te Motu Ngaongao) supposedly by the islanders ofManihiki who drifted to the island and found it deserted.
In 1803, it got yet another name - "Adele Island" - after the ship of the first discoverer. About 20 years later it was renamed "Lydra Island" by another explorer, then "Ranger Island" after the London whale ship "Ranger". An American whaler May Mitchell decided in 1834 that it should bear his name and called it "Mitchell Island".
But it wasn't until a year later it that finally got the name it is known by today. Another American whaler, John D. Sampson named it after his vessel, the Nassau. It is not known why that name finally stuck, especially as another whale ship which sighted the island the following year tried to rename it "New-Port Island".
The island was badly damaged in 2005 by Cyclone Percy and had to be almost rebuilt with the help of NZAID and the Government of the Cook Islands.