Makemo, Rangi-kemo or Te Paritua,[2] is an inhabited atoll in the Tuamotu archipelago in French Polynesia.

[3] The first recorded European to arrive to Makemo Atoll was English pearl merchant John Buyers on the brig Margaret.

In the 19th century, Makemo became a French territory with a population of about 250 indigenous inhabitants around 1850, making it one of the largest in the Tuamotus; it was used as a port for ships.

When his rival appeared, he chose a large, round, smooth stone, made a prayer to the god Tu, and killed Patira with a shot to the head.

Between 1960 and 2000, a French armed forces research center, euphemistically called Centre d'expérimentation du Pacifique, was located on the island.

Most of the population of the Atoll is affiliated with Christianity, as a result of the activity of both Catholic and Protestant missionary groups.

Tourism, especially with the development of diving near the two passes, is the main economic sector of the island, along with pearl farming (authorized on only 50 ha of the lagoon),[10] sea cucumber harvesting (in the southern part, below the line linking motu Tahiti Toreu to motu Piupiu)[10] and copra farming.

The landing of the Natitua submarine cable and its commissioning in December 2018 allows Makemo to be connected to Tahiti and to the global high-speed Internet.