Alofi, the capital city of the Pacific Ocean nation of Niue, is located in the centre of Alofi Bay on the west coast of the island, close to the only break in the coral reef that surrounds Niue.
It has more or less 1000 inhabitants, which are mainly Protestant Polynesians.
There is only one long street stretching for several kilometres along the rocky coastline.
Alofi is heavily dependent on aid from New Zealand, but it has an autonomous internal government.
The island was discovered by Captain James Cook in 1774 and became internally self-governing in 1974.