Katiu
Katiu | ||
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NASA image by Katiu | ||
Waters | Pacific Ocean | |
archipelago | Tuamotu Archipelago | |
Geographical location | 16 ° 26 ′ S , 144 ° 22 ′ W | |
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Number of islands | - | |
Main island | - | |
Land area | 27 km² | |
Lagoon area | 208 km² | |
Residents | 285 (2007) |
Katiu , also called Taungataki , is an atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia . It is located 23.5 km west of Makemo . Katiu belongs to the municipality of Makemo which consists of the atolls Makemo, Haraiki , Marutea North , Katiu, Tuanake , Hiti , Tepoto Sud , Raroia , Takume , Taenga and Nihiru .
The oval shape of the atoll extends over a length of 27.5 km and a width of 12.5 km. The lagoon has navigable access to the sea and has an area of 208 km². The land area, however, is only 27 km². Katiu has 285 inhabitants (as of August 2007), the most important places are Hitianau and Toini .
Katiu was discovered for the Europeans in 1820 by the Baltic German Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen . He gave the atoll the name "Ost-Saken" or "Saken".
The most important branches of the economy are copra production , pearl diving and tourism. In 2001 an airfield was also created.
Individual evidence
- ^ Institut Statistique de Polynésie Française (ISPF) - Recensement de la population 2007 ( Memento of February 29, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF, French)