Nonouti

Nonouti is an atoll in the southern part of the Pacific archipelago of the Gilbert Islands near the equator and administrative district of the state of Kiribati. It is located 38 km north of Tabiteuea and about 250 km south of the main atoll of Tarawa. The name Nonouti means " to get up early to go fishing ." Pronounced it is [ nunu: s], the inhabitants call themselves I- Nonouti.

Geography

The atoll looks like a slanting oval, its long axis runs from northwest to southeast. The islands of this atoll located on the eastern side. On the northwest side of the atoll, the island Noumatong that stands as bird sanctuary is under special protection. The atoll is with a length of 35 km and a width of 15 km is the third largest in the group of the Gilbert Islands.

Population

Demographics

History

The atoll has the largest meeting house ( maneaba ) of Kiribati in the village Taboiaki. This is also the first Catholic mission station was established in the 1880s.

After the British colonial period Nonouti formed with Aranuka, Kuria, Maiana and Abemama the administrative district headquarters Gilbert Islands.

Modern Times and infrastructure

The administrative center of the atoll is located in the village of Matang on the largest island of the atoll. The former president of Kiribati, Ieremia Tabai comes from Nonouti. The local issues are regulated by a Island Council ( Iceland Nonouti Council).

Nonouti sends two Members of Parliament in the Parliament elected maneaba ni Maungatabu in South Tarawa, for the 10th Parliament from 2011 to 2015 were Jeremiah Tabai and Waysang Mosi Kumkee

On Nonuti there are seven primary schools and a middle school and the private George Eastman High School, which is funded by the Protestant Church in Kiribati.

The island is accessible by air via the airfield Nonouti.