most northerly of the Cook Islands, a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand in the South Pacific Ocean. A coral atoll, it has a 40-mile (60-km) reef that surrounds a lagoon of 108 square miles (280 square km). Discovered in 1788, it was named for a British ship, the Lady Penrhyn, that was taking convicts to Australia. Annexed to Britain in 1888, it came under New Zealand administration in 1901. The island is called Tongareva (“Tonga in the Heavens”) by its Polynesian populace. Cultured black pearls and pearl shell are exported from the main village of Omoka. The large lagoon has good anchorage facilities with three passages to the open sea. Penrhyn has several schools, a hospital, and an airstrip, which was built during World War II. Area (land only) 3.8 square miles (9.8 square km). Pop. (2006 prelim.) 251.