Mount Tohivea

Mount Tohivea (or Tohiea) is a volcanic peak at 3,960 feet (1,207 m) that is the highest point on the island of Moorea in French Polynesia. On its slopes are many streams and fertile soils. There are Hiking Trails along along the summit close to the Belvedere point were people can view the 2 Bays, Mont Routui, and the three peninsulas. It is a Dormant Volcano that people can see from Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia.

Hiking Trails

There about 5 miles of dirt Hiking trails along the slopes. There are some streams where people have to walk on rocks so they don't get wet. The trails are about 2 feet wide but on some parts of the trail, there are the roots of the trees that grow on the trail. There are some points where people view and take pictures of the Cook's bay and Opunohu Bay. People can also see Pao Pao, the largest commune of Moorea and the Pacific Ocean. Some parts of the trails are covered with the branches of the trees there and there are some White Mushrooms growing on the trees. The animals that people can see are mainly Geckos and Salamanders. The hiking trails end close to Mont Mouaroa which is only a couple of miles west of Mont Tohivea. People can also see Mont Mouaroa from both the main road and the two bays. People can mainly see Mont Mouaroa from Opuhunu bay.Some of the hiking trails go to the bottom of Moorea from the south point. People can also see Mont Tohivea from the south point and get on the trails from there.

Location

It is located at the center of Moorea. People on Tahiti looking at Moorea would see Mount Tohivea in the southern part of Moorea. Mount Tohivea is about 20 miles from the town center of Papeete, 2,000 miles south of Honululu, Hawaii, 4,000 miles southwest of Los Angeles, California, and 2,000 miles east of Sydney, Australia. It is at about 20 degrees south of the equator and at the same longitude line as Anchorage, Alaska. The surronding peaks are almost as tall as Mount Tohivea. It is about 2 miles from Pao Pao, the largest city on Moorea.

Belvedre Point

The Belvedre Point is on the slope of Mount Tohivea. It is about 1,000 feet below the peak. It starts the hiking trails that go around the slopes. Roosters and Chickens walk around the Belvedre Point parking lot. The parking lot also ends the small 2 lane road that goes from the bottom of the Opunohu bay to the Belvedre Point. There is an Agriculture High School just north of the point. There are many people coming to this point each year. The Belvedre Point also is very easy to get to from Pao Pao.

Farms

There are farms at the bottom of Mount Tohivea. The farmers mainly farm pinapples and potatoes. The farmers give the pinapples to the Moorea Juice Factory. People can see the farms as they drive the small road up the valley. The farms are mainly located at where the small road starts at the bottom of Opuhunu bay. There is also a shrimp farm.

History

Mt. Tohivea was formed about 2 million years ago. Its last eruption was so big, there was a land slide that formed the 2 bays. After the eruption, Mt. Tohivea became a dormant Volcano. Then the area was first settled by early Polynesians during the early 4th century. Then Charles Darwin explored the area. After many years the area was very populated. Then people made trails and then it become a park. Today, the park is a tourist attraction.

Tourist

Mount Tohivea is visited a lot since it has easy access from Papeete. Many people walk the trails since there is beautiful scenery. People from Tahiti use the Moorea Temae Airport or the Aremeti ferry to get to Moorea. People can see Mt. Tohivea from the 2 bays if they look behind Mt. Rotui since it is directy south of Mt. Routui. When people walk around the trails, they can see many birds and geckos.

Surrounding Peaks

Mt. Tohivea has many peaks surronding it. Mt. Rotui is the second highest peak on Moorea. It is about 3,200 feet tall. People can see ti from the Belvedre Point. Some people hike Mt. Rotui since it is right next to Mooreas largest city Pao Pao. Other peaks are Mt. Mouaputa, Mt. Mouaroa, and Mt.Taufuapae.

External links

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Coordinates: 17°32′42″S 149°48′46″W / 17.5449°S 149.8127°W / -17.5449; -149.8127