Anapala Chasm

Anapala is a narrow cleft near Hakupu village on Niue's southeastern side with a long flight of steep steps cut down into it to a pool of clear cold fresh water at the bottom, where the village drew its drinking water before piped supply arrived. The walls close in tightly overhead and the pool is dark and deep. The climb back up is the hard part. Niue is a raised coral atoll with no rivers at all, so chasms like this were where the island's fresh water could actually be reached.

What you actually see

• The steep steps - the long cut descent into the cleft.
• The freshwater pool - clear cold water at the bottom of the chasm.
• The narrow walls - rock closing in tightly overhead.
• The water history - the village's drinking source before piped supply.

When to go

May to October is the dry season. The pool holds water year round. The steps are slippery after rain.

Honest expectations

The steps are steep and slippery and the climb back is genuinely hard work. The pool is cold and dark. There are no facilities.

Nearby

Hakupu is above, and Togo Chasm is southeast.