Katiu

Katiu, or Taungataki, is an atoll of the central Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia. It is located 23.5 km west of Makemo Atoll's westernmost point.

Katiu Atoll is roughly oval in shape. It measures 27 km in length with a maximum width of 12.5 km. Its total area, including the lagoon is 232.5 km² and a land area of approximately 10 km². There are many narrow islands on the north-eastern side of its long reef with a total land area of about 3 km². 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.

History

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

There is a territorial (domestic) airfield in Katiu which was inaugurated in 2001.

Administration