Abemama Atoll

Abemama Atoll belongs to the Gilbert Islands of Kiribati, lying 152 kilometres southeast of Tarawa and just north of the equator. Its narrow islets enclose a deep lagoon across a land area of roughly 27 square kilometres. The main eastern islet carries eleven villages joined by causeways, allowing traffic to move along much of the atoll. Smaller outlying islets lie on the western reef.

Two passages break the ring of land, one in the northwest and another in the south. The surrounding reef and lagoon supply fish, shellfish, and other marine food, while coconut, giant taro, pandanus, and breadfruit grow well on land. These crops and sheltered water make the atoll a compact but varied home.

The atoll’s history is therefore bound to both its coral geography and its position within the wider Tungaru chain.