The island's name in
Tahitian is spelled Pora-Pora and means "First Born."
Bora-Bora was visited by Captain
James Cook in 1777 and annexed by France in the late 19th century.
During
World War II the island had a U.S. naval base, and
Motu Mute islet on the northwest side of Bora-Bora's reef was a U.S. air base; the airstrip is still in use.
The tallest peak is
Mt Otemanu which is about 2379 feet high, and has never been climbed!
Author
James Michener described Bora Bora as "the most beautiful island in the world".