Fatu Huku

The island is essentially a huge rock, looming steep-sided out of the ocean and rising to a flattened plateau with a maximum elevation of 361 metres (1,184 ft).

[1] Fatu Huku is the youngest of the volcanic Marquesas Islands, estimated to be only 1.3 million years old which accounts, in part, for its ruggedness as erosion has not yet carved out valleys and beaches.

[2] The island is also surrounded by a roughly triangular-shaped barrier reef that is completely submerged, but can faintly be seen on satellite images.

Unreliability of water sources and lack of land suitable for agriculture were factors preventing any habitation.

On the plateau are a number of small heaps of stones, used to leave offerings by hunters visiting the island.