56 "ALBATEOSS" TKOPICAL PACIFIC EXPEDITION. 



Makatea. 



Plates M-32; 201, 202; 205, fig. 1; and Figs. 7, 8. 



Makatea is perhaps the most interesting of the Paumotu Islands, as 

 its structure gives us, in connection with Niau and Rangiroa and other 

 atolls of the Paumotus, the key to the structure of the whole group. 

 It is an elevated coralliferous limestone island, the highest point of 

 which is about 230 feet, flanked on the northeast and eastern sides by 

 perpendicular cliffs (Pis. 24, 25, 27) which are especially prominent on 

 the northern and northeastern point of the island as well as on the 

 easternmost point.. The southern face of the island slopes quite 

 gradually, and shows the lines of the terraces (PI. 29) which once 

 characterized the island before the extensive disintegration and denu- 

 dation which has reduced it to its present dimensions took place. 

 The terraces disappear on the western face of Makatea (Pis. 22, 23), 

 where they run into the steep wooded slope which characterizes that 

 side of the island. Makatea was visited by Dana, and he has given 

 a sketch of its appearance as seen from the sea facing the west 

 coast,' as well as a description of its principal features. The island 

 is four and a half miles long, and its greatest width a little over a mile 

 and a half^ (PI. 205, fig. 1). 



The island of Makatea is irregular in outline (PI. 205, fig. 1). The 

 southern part of the island is more or less rectangular ; the northwestern 

 angle extends into an elongated point tapering somewhat towards the 

 northern extremity of the island ; the northeastern fiice is concave ; its 

 western face runs nearly north and south; the southern face is convex, 

 and the eastern face, the shortest, runs, like the western face, north and 

 south. Its greatest width extends from the southeast point to the east 

 face. 



The southern and eastern faces are flanked by a sand beach, 

 and on the western face two coral sand beaches, separated by low ver- 

 tical bluffs belonging to the first terrace, occupy the greater pai-t of 



1 Dana, J. D., Geology of U. S. Exploring Expedition, p. CT; Corals ami Coral Islamls, p. 193. 

 ■•^ H. O. Chart 83 gives a good sketch of Makatea, though on a small scale. 



