Anatakitaki Cave, or the Cave of the Kopekas, is a
karst
Karst is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves. It has also been documented for more weathering-resistant ro ...
cave located in the northeast of
Atiu,
Cook Islands. The cave is a large
solutional cave
A solutional cave, solution cave, or karst cave is a cave usually formed in the soluble rock limestone. It is the most frequently occurring type of cave. It can also form in other rocks, including chalk, dolomite, marble, salt beds, and gypsum.
...
, with many offshoot chambers and passages. A freshwater lake is to be found at the base of the cave. The
Tiroto Tunnel connects this lake to the
Pacific Ocean, and can be waded along until the last portion which is totally submerged. There is a great array of all sorts of
speleothems decorating the cave throughout its length. The cave's alternate name comes from its population of
Atiu swiftlet
The Atiu swiftlet or Sawtell's Swiftlet (''Aerodramus sawtelli'') is a species of bird in the swift family, endemic to Atiu in the Cook Islands.
This small, dark swift measures long. It is sooty-brown above, slightly lighter below.
Its natural ...
s, which roost in the cave in vast numbers. They never land outside of the cave, and use
echolocation just like bats. Roots, mainly from
banyan trees, permeate the cave to its furthest depths.
[https://www.expedia.com/Anatakitaki-Cave-Atiu.d6101142.Vacation-Attraction Expedia]
References
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Caves of the Cook Islands