Katiu

Katiu, or Taungataki,^[2] is an atoll of the central Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located 23.5 kilometres (14.6 miles) west of Makemo Atoll's westernmost point. It measures 27 kilometres (17 miles) in length with a maximum width of 12.5 kilometres (7.8 miles). Its total area, including the lagoon is 232.5 square kilometres (89.8 square miles) and a land area of approximately 10 square kilometres (4 square miles). There are many narrow islands on the north-eastern side of its long reef with a total land area of about 3 square kilometres (1 square mile). Its lagoon is connected to the ocean.

Katiu

NASA picture of Katiu Atoll
Katiu
Geography
Location	Pacific Ocean
Coordinates	16°25′S 144°22′W
Archipelago	Tuamotus
Area	232.5 km2 (89.8 sq mi) (lagoon) 10 km2 (4 sq mi) (above water)
Length	27 km (16.8 mi)
Width	12.5 km (7.77 mi)
Administration
France
Overseas collectivity	French Polynesia
Administrative subdivision	Tuamotus
Commune	Makemo
Largest settlement	Toini
Demographics
Population	257[1] (2022)

Katiu has a population of 250 inhabitants. The main occupations are fishing, copra harvesting and pearl farming. The most important village is called Toini; it is located on one of the long islands of the northeastern reef.^[3]

History

NASA picture of Katiu Atoll.

Location within Makemo Commune

The first recorded European to arrive to Katiu was Russian oceanic explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen in 1820 on the ships Vostok and Mirni. He named this atoll "Osten-Saken" or "Saken".^[4]

Administration

Katiu belongs to the commune of Makemo, which consists of the atolls of Makemo, Haraiki, Marutea Nord, Katiu, Tuanake, Hiti, Tepoto Sud, Raroia, Takume, Taenga and Nihiru.