Read the text about the island of Bora Bora.

Surrounded by waters that glow a bright turquoise colour, Bora Bora is like a colourful painting. This mountainous island in the South Pacific is formed by volcanoes. The black rock of Mt Otemanu at the island’s centre stands out against the rich green hills around it. Sandy white beaches skirt the edges of the island. A string of tiny islands called motus surround the large island. The motus sit on the edge of a peaceful lagoon filled with colourful sea life.

The Polynesians first settled Bora Bora around the ninth century. Their rich history and traditions still thrive among the native people of the island. European explorers first visited in the 1700s. Over the years, people from different parts of the world have left their mark on the island. Bora Bora is now part of French Polynesia. Its location in the middle of the Pacific, halfway between Australia and South America, led to its brief use as a US military base during World War II.

Today, this peaceful place, with its natural beauty and welcoming people, is a popular holiday spot. Visitors come from around the world to relax in bungalows sitting on stilts right above the water. Those who choose to leave the comfort of their tiny thatched-roof cottages can explore the underwater world. One favourite spot for snorkelling and diving is a natural coral garden nicknamed ‘the aquarium’. People even enjoy swimming with the many stingrays, blacktip reef sharks and yellow-coloured lemon sharks found in the island’s waters. These creatures pose no threat to humans. Bora Bora is a beautifully colourful and serene world in and out of the water.