Bora Bora - French Polynesia - Bora Bora is an island surrounded by a lagoon and a barrier reef. In the center of the island are the remnants of an extinct volcano rising to two peaks, Mount Pahia and Mount Otemanu. The original name of the island in the Tahitian language might be better rendered as Pora Pora, meaning 'First Born'; an early transcription found in 18th- and 19th century accounts, is Bolabolla (or 'Bollabolla').