Makin Islands

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The Makin Islands are the northernmost islands in the Gilbert Islands chain of the Republic of Kiribati. They are on a linear reef feature to the north-east of the adjacent Butaritari Atoll. It is 12.3 km long north-south, with six islets, the two larger ones being inhabited. Makin is not a true atoll, but since the largest and northernmost of the islets, also called Makin, has a nearly landlocked lagoon, 0.3 km² in size and connected to the open sea in the east only through a 15 metre wide channel (with a road bridge over it), it might be considered a degenerate atoll. Kiebu, the second largest islet, has an even smaller, completely landlocked lagoon on its eastern side, with about 80 m in diameter (making an area of about 0.005 km² or 0.5 hectares) and at distance of 60 m to the open sea. Makin has a land area of 6.7 km² and a population of 1,798 (census of 2010.

This is not the site of the WWII Makin Raid and the Battle of Makin. At that time the Americans called Butaritari Atoll, Makin Atoll and Makin Island was known as Makin Meang, or "Little Makin". Now that Butaritari Atoll is the preferred name for its neighbour, the name Makin is used, and "Meang" has been dropped.