Butaritari is an
atoll in the
Pacific Ocean island nation of
Kiribati. It is the most fertile of the
Gilbert Islands, with relatively good soils (for an atoll) and high rainfall. Butaritari atoll has a land area of and a population of 4,346 . During World War II, Butaritari was known by American forces as Makin Atoll, and was the site of the
Battle of Makin. Locally,
Makin is the name of a separate atoll to the northeast of Butaritari.