Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A raised
terrace ofcoral limestone surrounding aSouth Pacific atoll - noun geology The limestone of which it is constructed
Etymologies
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Examples
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Henderson is an elevated coralline limestone ( "makatea") island which rises as an isolated conical mound from a depth of about 3.5 km, and is presumably a reef-capped volcano.
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In the makatea zones, however, most species are indigenous, and have been preserved because of the rough, almost inaccessible terrain.
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The makatea islands have similar flora to Rarotonga, with differences related to their structurally variability (volcanic vs. makatea (limestone) substrates).
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They have central volcanic hills surrounded by makatea: broad uplifted ancient coral reefs, as much as 2 km wide.
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Vegetation in the volcanic inner hills of the makatea islands has been almost completely introduced, with the area mostly given over to cultivation.
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Henderson Island is currently one of the most few relatively undisturbed makatea (raised limestone) islands in the world.
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McKean Island is a makatea, a plateau of raised coral reef, now dead.
McKean Island Birnie 2021
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