Situated at 590 km south of Tahiti, at 151 2º west longitude and 22.27º south latitude its general aspect recalls brutality –but at a reduced scale- the one of the african continent.

10 km long and at a maximum of 5.5 km (between the point of Arei and Vitara), it has a surface of about 38.5 km2.
Its views are varied: blunt summits, plantations of pine cone trees, small grenish valleys... but what mostly strikes the visitor, are the high greyish calcarious cliffs surrounded by nummerous caves. The island is surrounded by a reef of strange narrow passes. The platir is covered by 1 to 2 meters of high tide water.

The Manureva reaches 335 meters.