Beru Island

Beru Island is an island located in the Kingsmill Group of the South Gilbert Islands in the Pacific Ocean and is part of the Republic of Kiribati. Beru was previously known as Eliza, Francis Island, Maria, Peroat, Peru Island or Sunday.

Geography

Beru is part of a larger reef, some 15 kilometers long (NW-SE) and 4.75 km wide at the widest point (NE-SW). The center of the reef is a shallow depression called Nuka Lagoon. The land mass occupies fully a third or more of the shallow reef structure and is positioned mostly towards the northeast edge of the reef. In maximum dimension the islet is 13.9 km long, and varies in width between 0.5 and 2.9 km.

Extensive spit development has created the nearly enclosed Tabiang Lagoon at the north end. Mangroves are present here. A small lagoon or barachois at the northern tip is surrounded by man-made fishponds, as is a similar feature at the south end of the islet. A 3 km long barachois with extensive mangroves occupies the interior south of Nuka Lagoon. A causeway is present across the inlet mouth and a landing strip is present on the interior flats. The lagoon on the island known as Nuka Lagoon, has a broad passage entering it.

The island is 96 km east of Tabiteuea Atoll and 426 km southeast of Tarawa Atoll and is located near the equator (1°20' S latitude). The closest island to Beru is the island of Nikunau.

ettlements