Bora Bora is an island in the Leeward group of the Society Islands of
French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the Pacific
Ocean. The island, located about 230 kilometres (140 mi) northwest of
Papeete, is surrounded by a lagoon and a barrier reef. In the center of
the island are the remnants of an extinct volcano rising to two peaks,
Mount Pahia and Mount Otemanu, the highest point at 727 metres (2,385
ft). The original name of the island in the Tahitian language might be
better rendered as Pora Pora, meaning "First Born"; an early
transcription found in 18th- and 19th century accounts, is Bolabolla (or
"Bollabolla").
