There’s always something new to learn.
Bora Bora is the kind of place people daydream about — and then Google to check if it’s real. With lagoon waters that look photoshopped and overwater bungalows that practically float on air, it’s a destination that sets the gold standard for tropical fantasy.
But even paradise has its secrets. From wartime history to marine wonders, this tiny island offers more than just a pretty face. Let’s see what we discover.
Let’s see what we discover.
Things you didn’t know about Bora Bora.
5. Bora Bora has no “B” in the native language.
In Tahitian, the island’s name is actually “Pora Pora,” meaning “firstborn.” The ‘B’ sound doesn’t exist in the local dialect — it was misheard by early explorers and stuck ever since.
4. It played a major role in World War II.
The U.S. military set up a supply base here during WWII, building an airstrip and fortifications. Some remnants — like cannons and bunkers — can still be seen if you know where to look.
3. The island is surrounded by a coral reef ring.
Bora Bora’s unique lagoon is enclosed by a barrier reef, creating calm, impossibly blue waters ideal for snorkeling, diving, and floating your worries far, far away.
2. It’s home to stingrays that love human company.
At Stingray City, these graceful creatures will glide right up to you — like gentle, slippery puppies of the sea. It’s a surreal (and safe) encounter you won’t forget.
1. Mount Otemanu was once a fire-breathing volcano.
This jagged peak is the island’s centerpiece and the heart of its myth and geology. Though long dormant, its dramatic silhouette hints at Bora Bora’s fiery past beneath all that tranquility.
Bottom line.
Bora Bora may look like a screensaver, but the stories run deep beneath its crystal surface. With ancient roots, wartime footprints, and nature that enchants at every turn, it’s more than a dream — it’s a legend in motion.
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