What kind of island is Bora Bora?

An old volcano surrounded by a reef

Bora Bora Lagoon Quiz: Reef Sharks, Rays and Mount Otemanu

This Bora Bora lagoon quiz snorkels through the turquoise waters around French Polynesia's most famous island. Play 10 interactive questions on Mount Otemanu, the barrier reef and its single pass, the motu islets, blacktip reef sharks, stingrays and manta rays, coral gardens, the island's World War II supply base and its link to the musical South Pacific.

Start Bora Bora Lagoon Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Country
Bora Bora is part of which territory?
Peak
Which basalt peak rises from the island's center?
Origin
What kind of island is Bora Bora?
Motu
What are the small islets on the reef called?
Pass
How many navigable passes cut the reef?
Shark
Which small shark is common in the lagoon?
Ray
Which flat fish do snorkelers often meet?
Manta
Which large ray visits cleaning stations?
War
What did the US build on Bora Bora in World War II?
Musical
Which musical's island Bali Ha'i is said to be inspired partly by Bora Bora?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Bora Bora is part of which territory?
Answer: French Polynesia
It is in the Society Islands.
Q2: Which basalt peak rises from the island's center?
Answer: Mount Otemanu
It is about 727 m tall.
Q3: What kind of island is Bora Bora?
Answer: An old volcano surrounded by a reef
The volcano is sinking slowly.
Q4: What are the small islets on the reef called?
Answer: Motu
Many resorts sit on them.
Q5: How many navigable passes cut the reef?
Answer: One
It is called Teavanui.
Q6: Which small shark is common in the lagoon?
Answer: Blacktip reef shark
It is shy around people.
Q7: Which flat fish do snorkelers often meet?
Answer: Stingrays
They glide over sand.
Q8: Which large ray visits cleaning stations?
Answer: Manta ray
Small fish clean their skin.
Q9: What did the US build on Bora Bora in World War II?
Answer: A supply base
It brought an airstrip.
Q10: Which musical's island Bali Ha'i is said to be inspired partly by Bora Bora?
Answer: South Pacific
James Michener served in the Pacific.

A Volcano Ringed by a Turquoise Lagoon

Bora Bora, in the Society Islands of French Polynesia, is an old volcano slowly sinking into the sea. Its central basalt peak, Mount Otemanu, rises about 727 m. Around it lies a wide lagoon enclosed by a barrier reef dotted with low sandy islets called motu, and a single navigable pass, Teavanui, links the lagoon to the ocean.

The lagoon is famous for snorkeling. Blacktip reef sharks patrol the shallows, stingrays glide over sand, and manta rays visit cleaning stations where small fish pick their skin clean. Coral gardens near the motu shelter bright reef fish.

During World War II, the United States built a supply base on Bora Bora, with an airstrip on a motu. Writer James Michener served in the Pacific, and Bora Bora is often said to have inspired Bali Ha'i in South Pacific. Today overwater bungalows line the lagoon.

What This Quiz Teaches

Island and ocean fans will enjoy these questions.

How the island formed
What the reef looks like
Which animals live there
What happened in the war
Which stories it inspired

Did You Know?

Vaitape is the main village.
Old wartime cannons remain on hills.
Outrigger canoes race in festivals.
Most visitors arrive by boat from the airport motu.
Reef-safe sunscreen protects coral.