Bora Bora island, satellite image. Bora Bora is part of the Leeward Islands, part of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. The island comprises a central extinct volcano surrounded by a lagoon, encircled by a fringing coral reef. The presence of the fringing reef protects the lagoon from ocean waves, and has allowed sand to build up (pale blue). Bora Bora is thought to have been settled by seafaring Polynesian people around the 4th century AD. James Cook was the first European to visit the island, in 1777. It is now primarily a tourist destination, popular for its stunning scenery and tropical waters. Image taken by the Ikonos satellite on 25th October 2001.