Katiu | |
Map: | French Polynesia |
Location: | Pacific Ocean |
Archipelago: | Tuamotus |
Area Km2: | 232.5 |
Area Footnotes: | (lagoon) 10km² (above water) |
Length Km: | 27 |
Width Km: | 12.5 |
Country: | France |
Country Admin Divisions Title: | Overseas collectivity |
Country Admin Divisions: | French Polynesia |
Country Admin Divisions Title 2: | Commune |
Country Admin Divisions 2: | Makemo |
Country Admin Divisions Title 1: | Administrative subdivision |
Country Admin Divisions 1: | Tuamotus |
Country Largest City: | Toini |
Population: | 257[1] |
Population As Of: | 2022 |
Katiu, or Taungataki,[2] is an atoll of the central Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located 23.51NaN1 west of Makemo Atoll's westernmost point. It measures 27km (17miles) in length with a maximum width of 12.51NaN1. Its total area, including the lagoon is 232.51NaN1 and a land area of approximately 10km2. There are many narrow islands on the north-eastern side of its long reef with a total land area of about 3km2. Its lagoon is connected to the ocean.
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]
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]
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.