Australes

C.I.S.A.R.

Australes Rurutu Is. OC050

QSL

Rurutu is the most northerly of the Austral Islands, located 572 km. (355 miles) southwest of Tahiti. A very pretty island with a circumference of 32 km. (20 miles), Rurutu's highest mountain, Taatioe, reaches an elevation of 389 meters (1,270 ft). In the main village of Moerai there is a gendarmerie, a post office with telephone facilities, an infirmary with doctor and dentist, two branches of Tahiti banks, four small stores and two bakeries, a couple of snack bars and a butcher shop. An electric station provides 24-hour service, a radio and TV video station gives news and entertainment, and there are primary and high schools. Moerai and the villages of Avera and Hauti are home to the island's 2,015 inhabitants.
Rurutu does not have the wide lagoons found in the Society Islands or in Tubuai and Raivavae. Swimming and snorkeling are still possible in certain areas, however, and there are a few white sand beaches. Activities include horseback riding and hiking to waterfalls, where refreshing showers cascade into fern bordered pools.
Limestone grottoes with stalactites and stalagmites invite explorers. Circle island tours by four-wheel drive vehicle wind over rutted roads into cool valleys where fields of wild "miri" sweet basil scent the breeze. Picnic lunches can be packed for these trips or to play in the sun on deserted white sand beaches.
A special attraction on Rurutu occurs each January and July, when the young men and women of each village prove themselves in a show of strength. Following a custom called "amoraa ofai", unique to Rurutu, they attempt to lift huge volcanic stones to their shoulders.The village champions hoist one sacred stone that weighs 330 lbs. (150 kg.). This accomplishment is followed by exuberant feasting and dancing.

I2YSB and IK2GNW

Callsigns:

FO/I2YSB

F0/IK2GNW

FO/I2YSB QSL direct only to: Silvano Borsa, P.O.Box 45, 27036 Mortara Italy E-Mail: [email protected]

FO/IK2GNW QSL direct only to: Adriano Premoselli, Via Rossini 2, 20080 Cisliano Italy E-Mail: [email protected]

Statistics FO/I2YSB & FO/IK2GNW

QSO SSB CW RTTY 40 30 20 17 15 12 10 6

11717 5175 6200 342 667 1403 3549 1455 2107 1063 1246 182

AS EU NA OC SA AF JA USA

6270 2969 1858 490 119 10 5598 1676

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