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Butaritari Atoll

(Redirected from Makin)

Butaritari Atoll is an atoll of 10 islands in the Pacific Ocean island nation of Kiribati. 3 km away is a smaller atoll of 3 islands known as Makin. Butaritari was once known as Makin Atoll, and Makin was known as Makin Meang or Little Makin to distinguish it. Now that Butaritari has become the preferred name for the larger atoll, speakers tend to drop the qualifier.

Butaritari atoll has a land area of 13.6 km² and a population of 4200 as of 2002, while Makin has a land area of 6.7 km² and a population of 1700.

Butaritari atoll was the site of the initial thrust of the United States advance into the central Pacific in late 1942, in the battle of Makin.

Last updated: 05-16-2005 14:01:28