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Archipelago

    Kiribati

    1°28′N 173°02′E

    Kiribati

    Part of Polynesia and Micronesia

    Kiribati, officially the Republic of Kiribati, is an archipelagic country spanning the Micronesia and Polynesia sub-regions of Oceania in the central Pacific Ocean. The state comprises 32 atolls and other islands and one remote raised coral island, Banaba.

    Chart

    384 landforms

    Overview

    Kiribati, officially the Republic of Kiribati, is an archipelagic country spanning the Micronesia and Polynesia sub-regions of Oceania in the central Pacific Ocean. The state comprises 32 atolls and other islands and one remote raised coral island, Banaba. Its total land area is 811 km2 (313 sq mi) dispersed over 3,441,810 km2 (1,328,890 sq mi) of ocean. The spread of the country's islands, from Banaba in the west to Kiritimati in the east, straddles the equator and the 180th meridian. The International Date Line goes around Kiribati and swings far to the east, almost reaching 150°W. This brings Kiribati's easternmost islands, the southern Line Islands south of Hawaii, into the same day as the Gilbert Islands and places them in the most advanced time zone on Earth: UTC+14. The permanent population of Kiribati is just over 138,000 as of the 2026 census, and more than half live on Tarawa. There is also a significant number of I‑Kiribati forming a diaspora, the largest of which still growing via emigration is probably in New Zealand; historically, diasporic communities were created through over-population resettlement in the Solomon Islands on Ghizo and Wagina, and through intermarriage in the United Kingdom and United States. Another country with growing diasporic communities born of recent labour immigration is Australia. The I‑Kiribati are a Micronesian people who speak the Gilbertese language. The Gilberts were politically autonomous of each other, more or less, and anywhere else, until annexed as a protectorate in 1892 by the British; they had no political connection then with the Phoenix or Line islands. This annexation was ended in 1979, when Kiribati gained its independence from the United Kingdom, becoming a sovereign state in 1979. The sovereign state included the Gilberts, the Phoenix and Line islands and Banaba. The capital, Tarawa, now the most populated area, consists of a number of islets, connected by a series of causeways. These comprise about half the area of Tarawa Atoll. Prior to its independence the country exported phosphate, but the mine, on Banaba, is virtually exhausted and no longer viable. The descendants of the Banabans mostly live in exile on Rabi in Fiji but are represented in the Kiribati Parliament. Fisheries, subsistence agriculture and the export of copra drive much of the economy, particularly on outer islands away from Tarawa. Kiribati is one of the least developed countries in the world and its government is highly dependent on fishing licence fees from foreign fleets and international capital aid to finance infrastructure and other projects. Many families rely on remittances from circular labour migrants (seafarers, agricultural workers, urban service workers). They also work for the government or for private business and non-business organisations, or run trade stores and small private cooperative-like businesses. The government now pays benefits to the unemployed on Tarawa and to the elderly. Kiribati is a member of the Pacific Community, Commonwealth of Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, and became a full member of the United Nations in 1999. As an atoll (and other low-lying island) nation, Kiribati is acutely vulnerable to sea-level rise and climate change. This is in addition to threats from tsunamis since time-immemorial. Addressing climate change has been a central part of its international policy, as a member of the Alliance of Small Island States. In Kiribati, climate change and extreme weather events are predicted to become more frequent. Additionally, existing socio-economic and environmental pressures are intensifying.

    From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Census, cataloged

    • Major islands15
    • Minor islands142
    • Islets205
    • Rocks & skerries22

    Major islands

    15
    • Kiritimati

      Kiritimati

      Area
      546 km²
      High point
      13 m

      Kiritimati (Gilbertese pronunciation: [kiˈrɪsmæs]), also known as Christmas Island, is a Pacific Ocean atoll in the northern Line Islands. It is part of the Republic of Kiribati.

    • Malden Island

      Malden Island

      Area
      37.1 km²
      High point
      9 m

      Malden Island, sometimes called Independence Island in the 19th century, is a low, arid, uninhabited atoll in the central Pacific Ocean, about 39 km2 (15 sq mi) in area. It is one of the Line Islands belonging to the Republic of Kiribati.

    • Starbuck Island

      Starbuck Island

      Area
      24.8 km²
      High point
      9 m

      Starbuck Island (or Volunteer Island) is an uninhabited coral island in the central Pacific, and is part of the Central Line Islands of Kiribati. Its former names include "Barren Island", "Coral Queen Island", "Hero Island", "Low Island", and "Starve Island".

    • Nikunau

      Nikunau

      Area
      19.1 km²
      High point
      23 m

      Nikunau is a low coral atoll in the Gilbert Islands. It consists of two parts, with the larger in the northwest, joined by an isthmus about 150 metres (490 ft) wide. There are several landlocked hypersaline lagoons within the island, covering about 30 hectares (74 acres).

    • Beru

      Beru

      Area
      17.5 km²
      High point
      18 m

      Beru is an atoll in the Southern Gilbert Islands in the Pacific Ocean, part of the Republic of Kiribati. Beru was previously known as Eliza, Francis Island, Maria, Peroat, Peru Island or Sunday. It is part of a larger reef with the Nuka Lagoon at its center, and the nearest island is Nikunau.

    • Tabuaeran

      Tabuaeran

      Area
      17.4 km²
      High point
      27 m

      Tabuaeran, also known as Fanning Island, is an atoll that is part of the Line Islands of the central Pacific Ocean and part of the island nation of Kiribati. The land area is 33.73 square kilometres (13.02 square miles), and the population in 2015 was 2,315. The maximum elevation is about 3 m (10 ft) above high tide.

    • Tabukaokao

      Area
      586 km²
      High point
      10 m
    • Abanekeneke

      Area
      99.9 km²
      High point
      21 m
    • Tarawa

      Area
      31 km²
      High point
      2 m

      Tarawa is an atoll and the capital of the Republic of Kiribati, in the Micronesia region of the central Pacific Ocean.

    • Tabiteuea

      Area
      22.5 km²
      High point
      18 m
    • Nonouti

      Area
      21 km²
      High point
      3 m

      Nonouti is an atoll and district of Kiribati. The atoll is located in the Southern Gilbert Islands, 38 km north of Tabiteuea, and 250 km south of Tarawa. The atoll is the third largest in the Gilbert Islands and is the island where Catholicism was first introduced to Kiribati, in 1888.

    • Unnamed island

      Area
      20.7 km²
      High point
      19 m
    • Abaiang

      Area
      17.5 km²

      Abaiang, also known as Apaiang, Apia, and in the past, Charlotte Island, in the Northern Gilbert Islands, is a coral atoll of Kiribati, located in the west-central Pacific Ocean. Abaiang was the island of the first missionary to arrive in the Gilberts, Hiram Bingham II. Abaiang has a population of 5,872 (2020 census).

    • Maiana

      Area
      16.7 km²
      High point
      3 m

      Maiana is an atoll in Kiribati and is one of the Central Gilbert Islands. Maiana is 44 kilometres (27 mi) south of the capital island of South Tarawa and has a population of 1,982 as of 2015.

    • Unnamed island

      Area
      16.3 km²
      High point
      19 m

    Minor islands

    142
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      15.8 km²
      High point
      23 m
    • Onotoa

      Area
      15.6 km²
    • Kuria

      Area
      15.5 km²
      High point
      3 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      14.6 km²
      High point
      20 m
    • Teraina

      Area
      14.5 km²
      High point
      30 m
    • Marakei

      Area
      14.1 km²
      High point
      3 m
    • Butaritari

      Area
      13.5 km²
      High point
      3 m
    • Aranuka

      Area
      13.3 km²
      High point
      3 m
    • Takaeang

      Area
      13.2 km²
      High point
      3 m
    • South Tarawa

      Area
      11.6 km²
      High point
      3 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      11 km²
      High point
      17 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      10.8 km²
      High point
      9 m
    • Buariki

      Area
      10.2 km²
      High point
      19 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      10.1 km²
      High point
      29 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      10 km²
      High point
      24 m
    • Manra

      Area
      9.1 km²
      High point
      17 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      8.7 km²
      High point
      20 m
    • Naa

      Area
      7.3 km²
      High point
      21 m
    • Arorae

      Area
      7.2 km²
      High point
      19 m
    • Buariki

      Area
      7.2 km²
      High point
      21 m
    • Banaba

      Area
      6.3 km²
      High point
      81 m
    • Enderbury Island

      Area
      6.1 km²
      High point
      8 m
    • Tekaeang

      Area
      6.1 km²
      High point
      16 m
    • Makin

      Area
      5.9 km²
      High point
      21 m
    • Tabiteuea

      Area
      5.4 km²
      High point
      15 m
    • Oneeke

      Area
      5.1 km²
      High point
      16 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      5 km²
      High point
      21 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      5 km²
      High point
      18 m
    • Tamana

      Area
      4.8 km²
      High point
      17 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      4.7 km²
      High point
      18 m
    • Nikumaroro

      Area
      4.2 km²
      High point
      23 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      3.9 km²
      High point
      16 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      3.2 km²
      High point
      17 m
    • Abatiku

      Area
      3.1 km²
      High point
      14 m
    • Bikati

      Area
      2.7 km²
      High point
      17 m
    • Flint Island

      Area
      2.3 km²
      High point
      27 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      2.2 km²
      High point
      9 m
    • Long Island

      Area
      2.2 km²
      High point
      18 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      1.9 km²
      High point
      16 m
    • Bikeman

      Area
      1.8 km²
    • Tabiteuea

      Area
      1.8 km²
      High point
      14 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      1.7 km²
      High point
      16 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      1.6 km²
      High point
      16 m
    • Tabiteuea

      Area
      1.6 km²
      High point
      16 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      1.2 km²
      High point
      24 m
    • Tabiteuea

      Area
      1.2 km²
      High point
      13 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      1.1 km²
      High point
      11 m
    • Namakaina

      Area
      1.1 km²
      High point
      14 m
    • Buota

      Area
      1 km²
      High point
      19 m
    • Tabiteuea

      Area
      1 km²
      High point
      16 m
    • Nuotaea

      Area
      0.91 km²
      High point
      19 m
    • Kamanau

      Area
      0.91 km²
      High point
      11 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.87 km²
      High point
      19 m
    • Abatao

      Area
      0.83 km²
      High point
      22 m
    • Kiebu

      Area
      0.82 km²
      High point
      21 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.73 km²
      High point
      15 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.72 km²
      High point
      16 m
    • Aiwa

      Area
      0.69 km²
      High point
      15 m
    • Rawaki

      Area
      0.68 km²
      High point
      5 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.6 km²
      High point
      6 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.56 km²
      High point
      14 m
    • McKean Island

      Area
      0.54 km²
      High point
      5 m
    • Birnie Island

      Area
      0.52 km²
      High point
      1 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.5 km²
      High point
      9 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.5 km²
      High point
      7 m
    • Bikati

      Area
      0.47 km²
      High point
      16 m
    • Onne

      Area
      0.47 km²
      High point
      20 m
    • Arakeakea

      Area
      0.46 km²
      High point
      13 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.44 km²
      High point
      18 m
    • Bike

      Area
      0.41 km²
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.41 km²
      High point
      9 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.39 km²
      High point
      10 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.38 km²
      High point
      17 m
    • Bangai

      Area
      0.37 km²
      High point
      13 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.37 km²
      High point
      14 m
    • Motu Upou

      Area
      0.36 km²
      High point
      5 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.35 km²
      High point
      14 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.35 km²
      High point
      15 m
    • Auaneenee

      Area
      0.33 km²
      High point
      13 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.33 km²
      High point
      18 m
    • Tetongo

      Area
      0.31 km²
      High point
      15 m
    • Abarei

      Area
      0.31 km²
      High point
      14 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.31 km²
      High point
      20 m
    • Cook Island

      Area
      0.29 km²
      High point
      4 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.29 km²
      High point
      4 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.29 km²
      High point
      5 m
    • Vostok Island

      Area
      0.27 km²
      High point
      15 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.27 km²
      High point
      12 m
    • Tabukaokao

      Area
      0.26 km²
      High point
      12 m
    • Tenaumwariki

      Area
      0.26 km²
      High point
      13 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.26 km²
      High point
      8 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.26 km²
      High point
      6 m
    • Tengaabuka

      Area
      0.25 km²
      High point
      11 m
    • Abamwakoro

      Area
      0.24 km²
      High point
      13 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.24 km²
      High point
      16 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.23 km²
      High point
      9 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.23 km²
      High point
      11 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.23 km²
      High point
      15 m
    • Takorongaieta

      Area
      0.23 km²
      High point
      11 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.22 km²
      High point
      11 m
    • Bikenamori

      Area
      0.21 km²
      High point
      13 m
    • Teruaabine

      Area
      0.2 km²
      High point
      9 m
    • Teaakaurongo

      Area
      0.2 km²
      High point
      12 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.19 km²
      High point
      12 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.19 km²
      High point
      17 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.19 km²
      High point
      3 m
    • Tikurere

      Area
      0.18 km²
      High point
      15 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.18 km²
      High point
      12 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.18 km²
      High point
      3 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.17 km²
      High point
      12 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.17 km²
      High point
      7 m
    • Tebukaautongo

      Area
      0.17 km²
      High point
      10 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.16 km²
      High point
      10 m
    • Teroto

      Area
      0.16 km²
      High point
      4 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.16 km²
      High point
      13 m
    • Natata

      Area
      0.15 km²
      High point
      18 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.15 km²
      High point
      5 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.15 km²
      High point
      7 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.14 km²
      High point
      11 m
    • Tewao

      Area
      0.14 km²
      High point
      7 m
    • Taura

      Area
      0.14 km²
      High point
      13 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.14 km²
      High point
      8 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.13 km²
    • Namoka

      Area
      0.13 km²
      High point
      6 m
    • Tengongo

      Area
      0.13 km²
      High point
      8 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.12 km²
      High point
      9 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.12 km²
      High point
      12 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.12 km²
      High point
      12 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.12 km²
      High point
      4 m
    • Bikentekai

      Area
      0.12 km²
      High point
      8 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.11 km²
      High point
      6 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.11 km²
      High point
      9 m
    • Aonbike

      Area
      0.11 km²
      High point
      15 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.11 km²
      High point
      10 m
    • Tenon

      Area
      0.11 km²
      High point
      15 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.11 km²
      High point
      14 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.11 km²
      High point
      11 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.11 km²
      High point
      16 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.11 km²
      High point
      3 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.1 km²
      High point
      8 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.1 km²
      High point
      14 m
    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.1 km²
      High point
      13 m

    Rocks & skerries

    22

    On the chart above, at its closest zooms.

    Listing 157 of 384; the rest are on the chart.

    Figures

    Comparative heights

    Sea level50 m100 m81 mBanaba30 mTeraina27 mTabuaeran27 mFlint23 mNikunau23 mNikumaroro22 mAbatao21 mAbanekeneke21 mNaa21 mBuariki21 mMakin21 mKiebu20 mOnne19 mBuariki
    High points by island, metres above sea level.

    Islands by area

    0.11101001,000Tabukaokao: 586 km²TabukaokaoKiritimati: 546 km²KiritimatiAbanekeneke: 99.9 km²AbanekenekeMalden: 37.1 km²MaldenTarawa: 31 km²TarawaStarbuck: 24.8 km²StarbuckTabiteuea: 22.5 km²TabiteueaNonouti: 21 km²NonoutiUnnamed island: 20.7 km²Unnamed islandNikunau: 19.1 km²NikunauBeru: 17.5 km²BeruAbaiang: 17.5 km²AbaiangTabuaeran: 17.4 km²TabuaeranMaiana: 16.7 km²MaianaUnnamed island: 16.3 km²Unnamed islandUnnamed island: 15.8 km²Unnamed islandOnotoa: 15.6 km²OnotoaKuria: 15.5 km²KuriaUnnamed island: 14.6 km²Unnamed islandTeraina: 14.5 km²TerainaMarakei: 14.1 km²MarakeiButaritari: 13.5 km²ButaritariAranuka: 13.3 km²AranukaTakaeang: 13.2 km²TakaeangSouth Tarawa: 11.6 km²South TarawaUnnamed island: 11 km²Unnamed islandUnnamed island: 10.8 km²Unnamed islandBuariki: 10.2 km²BuarikiUnnamed island: 10.1 km²Unnamed islandUnnamed island: 10 km²Unnamed islandManra: 9.1 km²ManraUnnamed island: 8.7 km²Unnamed islandNaa: 7.3 km²NaaArorae: 7.2 km²AroraeBuariki: 7.2 km²BuarikiBanaba: 6.3 km²BanabaEnderbury: 6.1 km²EnderburyTekaeang: 6.1 km²TekaeangMakin: 5.9 km²MakinTabiteuea: 5.4 km²Tabiteuea
    km², log scale
    Tabukaokao586 km²
    Kiritimati546 km²
    Abanekeneke99.9 km²
    Malden Island37.1 km²
    Tarawa31 km²
    Starbuck Island24.8 km²
    Tabiteuea22.5 km²
    Nonouti21 km²
    Unnamed island20.7 km²
    Nikunau19.1 km²
    Beru17.5 km²
    Abaiang17.5 km²
    Tabuaeran17.4 km²
    Maiana16.7 km²
    Unnamed island16.3 km²
    Unnamed island15.8 km²
    Onotoa15.6 km²
    Kuria15.5 km²
    Unnamed island14.6 km²
    Teraina14.5 km²
    Marakei14.1 km²
    Butaritari13.5 km²
    Aranuka13.3 km²
    Takaeang13.2 km²
    South Tarawa11.6 km²
    Unnamed island11 km²
    Unnamed island10.8 km²
    Buariki10.2 km²
    Unnamed island10.1 km²
    Unnamed island10 km²
    Manra9.1 km²
    Unnamed island8.7 km²
    Naa7.3 km²
    Arorae7.2 km²
    Buariki7.2 km²
    Banaba6.3 km²
    Enderbury Island6.1 km²
    Tekaeang6.1 km²
    Makin5.9 km²
    Tabiteuea5.4 km²
    Oneeke5.1 km²
    Unnamed island5 km²
    Unnamed island5 km²
    Tamana4.8 km²
    Unnamed island4.7 km²
    Nikumaroro4.2 km²
    Unnamed island3.9 km²
    Unnamed island3.2 km²
    Abatiku3.1 km²
    Bikati2.7 km²
    Flint Island2.3 km²
    Unnamed island2.2 km²
    Long Island2.2 km²
    Unnamed island1.9 km²
    Bikeman1.8 km²
    Tabiteuea1.8 km²
    Unnamed island1.7 km²
    Unnamed island1.6 km²
    Tabiteuea1.6 km²
    Unnamed island1.2 km²
    Tabiteuea1.2 km²
    Unnamed island1.1 km²
    Namakaina1.1 km²
    Buota1 km²
    Tabiteuea1 km²
    Nuotaea0.91 km²
    Kamanau0.91 km²
    Unnamed island0.87 km²
    Abatao0.83 km²
    Kiebu0.82 km²
    Unnamed island0.73 km²
    Unnamed island0.72 km²
    Aiwa0.69 km²
    Rawaki0.68 km²
    Unnamed island0.6 km²
    Unnamed island0.56 km²
    McKean Island0.54 km²
    Birnie Island0.52 km²
    Unnamed island0.5 km²
    Unnamed island0.5 km²
    Bikati0.47 km²
    Onne0.47 km²
    Arakeakea0.46 km²
    Unnamed island0.44 km²
    Bike0.41 km²
    Unnamed island0.41 km²
    Unnamed island0.39 km²
    Unnamed island0.38 km²
    Bangai0.37 km²
    Unnamed island0.37 km²
    Motu Upou0.36 km²
    Unnamed island0.35 km²
    Unnamed island0.35 km²
    Auaneenee0.33 km²
    Unnamed island0.33 km²
    Tetongo0.31 km²
    Abarei0.31 km²
    Unnamed island0.31 km²
    Cook Island0.29 km²
    Unnamed island0.29 km²
    Unnamed island0.29 km²
    Vostok Island0.27 km²
    Unnamed island0.27 km²
    Tabukaokao0.26 km²
    Tenaumwariki0.26 km²
    Unnamed island0.26 km²
    Unnamed island0.26 km²
    Tengaabuka0.25 km²
    Abamwakoro0.24 km²
    Unnamed island0.24 km²
    Unnamed island0.23 km²
    Unnamed island0.23 km²
    Unnamed island0.23 km²
    Takorongaieta0.23 km²
    Unnamed island0.22 km²
    Bikenamori0.21 km²
    Teruaabine0.2 km²
    Teaakaurongo0.2 km²
    Unnamed island0.19 km²
    Unnamed island0.19 km²
    Unnamed island0.19 km²
    Tikurere0.18 km²
    Unnamed island0.18 km²
    Unnamed island0.18 km²
    Unnamed island0.17 km²
    Unnamed island0.17 km²
    Tebukaautongo0.17 km²
    Unnamed island0.16 km²
    Teroto0.16 km²
    Unnamed island0.16 km²
    Natata0.15 km²
    Unnamed island0.15 km²
    Unnamed island0.15 km²
    Unnamed island0.14 km²
    Tewao0.14 km²
    Taura0.14 km²
    Unnamed island0.14 km²
    Unnamed island0.13 km²
    Namoka0.13 km²
    Tengongo0.13 km²
    Unnamed island0.12 km²
    Unnamed island0.12 km²
    Unnamed island0.12 km²
    Unnamed island0.12 km²
    Bikentekai0.12 km²
    Unnamed island0.11 km²
    Unnamed island0.11 km²
    Aonbike0.11 km²
    Unnamed island0.11 km²
    Tenon0.11 km²
    Unnamed island0.11 km²
    Unnamed island0.11 km²
    Unnamed island0.11 km²
    Unnamed island0.11 km²
    Unnamed island0.1 km²
    Unnamed island0.1 km²
    Unnamed island0.1 km²

    Groups within

    2

    Overlapping groups

    Sources

    Facts

    • Geometry, areas and high points: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Copernicus GLO-30, via Talus.
    • Wikidata
    • Wikipedia

    Photographs