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  Makin  Makin  Makin  Makin | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 3°23′N173°00′E / 3.383°N 173.000°E /3.383; 173.000 (Makin) |
| Archipelago | Gilbert Islands |
| Area | 7.89 km2 (3.05 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 3 m (10 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 1,990 (2015 Census) |
| Pop. density | 228/km2 (591/sq mi) |
| Ethnic groups | I-Kiribati 98.5% |
Makin is anatoll, chain of islands, located in thePacific Ocean island nation ofKiribati. Makin is the northernmost of theGilbert Islands, with a population (in 2015) of 1,990.[1]
Makin is located six km northeast of the northeastern corner ofButaritari atoll reef and 6.9 km from the Butaritari islet of Namoka. It is a linear reef feature, 12.3 km long north-south, with five islets, the two larger ones being inhabited (Makin and Kiebu). The third largest, and southernmost islet, Onne, is also inhabitable. This string of islands is the northernmost feature of theGilbert Islands, and the third most northerly in the island nation ofKiribati (onlyTeraina andTabuaeran of theLine Islands are more northerly). Makin is not a trueatoll, 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 0.5hectares) and at distance of 60 m to the open sea.[2]
Since neighboringButaritari was calledMakin Atoll by theU.S. military, the feature used to be calledMakin Meang (Northern Makin) orLittle Makin to distinguish it from the larger atoll. Now that Butaritari has become the preferred name for that larger atoll, speakers tend to drop the qualifier for Makin.
The Gilbert islands are sometimes regarded as the southern continuation of theRatak Chain of theMarshall Islands, which areNNW of it. The closest island of the Marshall Islands,Nadikdik Atoll, is 290 km NNW of Makin.
Makin has a land area of 6.7 km2 and a population of 1,798 (census of 2010[1]).
Makin Island consists of five small islets. Of these, only Makin and Kiebu islets are permanently inhabited. The total population of Makin is 1,798 (as of the 2010 Census).
| Makin: Population and Land Area | ||||
| Islet/Village | Population (2010 census)[1] | Land area (usable)[1] | Density | Area not available for use[1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Makin | 1,364 | 1,541.5 acres (624 ha) | 0.9 people per acre | Enclosed lagoon 84.7 acres |
| Bikin Eitei | 8 acres (3 ha) | |||
| Aonibike | 30.9 acres (13 ha) | |||
| Tebua Tarawa | 5 acres (2 ha) | |||
| Kiebu | 434 | 242.2 acres (98 ha) | 1.8 people per acre | |
| Onne | 122.6 acres (50 ha) | |||
| Makin (total) | 1,798 | 1,950.2 acres (789 ha) | 0.9 people per acre | Enclosed lagoon 84.7 acres |
The climate is very similar to neighboringButaritari atoll, with lush vegetation and high rainfall. Typical annual rainfall is about 4 m, compared with about 2 m onTarawa Atoll and 1 m in the far south of Kiribati. Rainfall on Makin is enhanced during anEl Niño.[2]
Higher sea levels are resulting in saltwater intrusion tobwabwai orbabai (Cyrtosperma merkusii orgiant swamp taro) pits andcoastal erosion.[3] At Kiebu islet, one communal bwabwai pit is located very close to a saltwater pond. When it rains the pond overflows causing damage to the bwabwai plants. More recently, the increasing incidence of unusually high tides has caused the intrusion of saltwater into the communal pit, resulting in salt contamination and damage of food crops.[2] The construction of causeways have also resulted to reduced flushing of the lagoon that has resulted in low levels of oxygen in the lagoon, which has caused damage to fish stocks in the lagoon and causes other biological problems.[3] The erosion and accretion that are occurring along the shoreline is identified as being linked to aggregate mining, land reclamation and the construction of causeways that has been thought to change the currents along the shoreline.[3]
Makin, like other Kiribati islands, has a mainly subsistence economy. Most houses are made from local materials, and most households rely on fish, coconut and fruit (particularly banana andpapaya) as the mainstay of their diet, though imported rice, sugar and tobacco are also seen as necessities. Makin is a high producer ofcopra, but has few other economic activities apart from a limited number of Government and Island Council jobs. Many families receive remittances from relatives working onSouth Tarawa or overseas.[4]
There are different stories told as to the creation of Makin and the other islands in the Gilberts. An important legend in the culture of Makin is that spirits who lived in a tree in Samoa migrated northward carrying branches from the tree,Te Kaintikuaba, which translates as the tree of life.[3] It was these spirits, together with Nareau the Wise who created the islands of Tungaru (the Gilbert Islands).[Note 1]
Nakaa Beach is located at the northern tip of Makin Atoll is an important site in the traditional mythology of the island group, being the departing point for the spirits of the dead heading to the underworld. Nakaa is the legendary guardian of the gateway to the place of the dead.[2]
In 1606Pedro Fernandes de Queirós sightedButaritari and Makin, which he named the Buen Viaje (‘good trip’ in Spanish) Islands.[7][8]
Traditionally, Butaritari and Makin were ruled by a chief orUea who lived on Butaritari Island.[9] This chief had all the powers and authority to make and impose decision for Butaritari and Makin, a system very different from the southernGilbert Islands where power was wielded collectively by theunimwane or old men. The lastUea was Nauraura Nakoriri who was in power both before and after the Gilberts became a British Protectorate in 1892.[9]
The island was surveyed in 1841 by theUS Exploring Expedition.[10]
Little Makin Post Office opened around 1925.[11]
Japanese forces occupied the island in December 1941, days after theattack on Pearl Harbor, in order to protect their south-eastern flank from allied counterattacks, and isolate Australia, under the codenameOperation FS. On 17–18 August 1942, in order to divert Japanese attention from theSolomon Islands andNew Guinea areas, the United States launched a raid on the nearby island of Butaritari, known asthe raid on Makin.The United States invaded and captured the island after theBattle of Makin, which lasted from November 20, 1943, to November 24, 1943, as well as neighbouringTarawa island, during theGilbert Islands campaign.
Makin Airport, located immediately northeast of Makin Village, between the lagoon and the sea, hasICAO code NGMN andIATA code MTK. It is served by two weeklyAir Kiribati flights to Butaritari and toBonriki International Airport inTarawa.
There are no tourist facilities on Makin, but both theKiribati Protestant Church and the Island Council maintain guest houses.[12]
Makin is featured inCall of Duty: World at War, in the first single player level ‘Semper Fi’, and two multi-player maps, 'Makin' and 'Makin Day'. It also features as a campaign location in the gameMedal of Honor: Pacific Assault as 'Makin Atoll'
W.E.B. Griffin's novelCall To Arms, Book Two ofThe Corps series, focuses on the forming of the Marine Raiders and the raid on Makin Island, as told through the novel's protagonist,Lt. Kenneth 'Killer' McCoy.
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