Rangiroa (meaning Vast Sky in Tuamotuan) or Te Kokota (Hyades in Maori), is the largest atoll in the Tuamotus, and one of the largest in the world (although it is smaller than Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands and Huvadhu in the Maldives). It is part of the Palliser group. The nearest atoll is Tikehau, located only 12 km to the west. It is about 355 km northeast of Tahiti.