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Covering a total land area of 811 sq.km (313 sq mi), the widely scattered nation of Kiribati comprises of 32 atolls and one raised coral island (Banaba), spread over 3.5 million sq.km at the heart of the Pacific Ocean. These low-lying coral atolls are the protruding tips of undersea volcanoes and extend only a few feet above sea level, being surrounded by extensive reefs.

As observed on the physical map of Kiribati above, the islands are grouped into the Gilbert Islands in the west; the Phoenix Islands in the center and the Line Islands in the east. Except for the Banaba island, most of the islands and atolls have ring-shaped islands with central lagoons. One of the º£½ÇÉçÇø’s largest coral atoll is Kiritimati (Christmas Islands) situated in the Line group and having a land area of 388 sq.km, accounting for about half of the total land area of the country. The raised limestone Banaba island at an elevation of 285ft (87m) is the highest point in Kiribati. Coconut palms are found dominating the landscape on each island.

Geographical Units of Kiribati Map

Kiribati (officially, the Republic of Kiribati) is divided into 3 geographical units, 6 districts and 21 island councils (one for each of the 21 inhabited islands). The geographical units are: Gilbert Islands, Line Islands and Phoenix Islands. The districts are: Banaba, Central Gilberts, Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts and Tarawa. The island councils are: Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Kanton, Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa and Teraina.

Covering a total land area of 811 sq.km, Kiribati comprises of 32 atolls and one raised coral island (Banaba), scattered over 3.5 million sq.km in the central Pacific Ocean. An atoll in the Gilbert Islands and located to the north of Maiana Island and to the south of Abaiang Island is Tarawa (South Tarawa) – the capital, the largest and the most populous atoll in Kiribati. Bairiki – an islet in the southern part of Tarawa serves as the chief administrative center.

Where is Kiribati?

Kiribati is a sovereign island nation in Micronesia comprising of 32 atolls and one raised coral island (Banaba), scattered over 3.5 million sq.km in the central Pacific Ocean.The chain of islands straddles along the edges of the Equator about halfway between Hawaii and Australia, bordering the International Date Line to the east. It extends from the western hemisphere to the eastern hemisphere, as well as the northern and southern hemispheres; making it the º£½ÇÉçÇø’s only island nation to be situated on all four hemispheres of the Earth.

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