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___ Palau

Flag of Palau

Location map of Palau

Destination Palau, a virtual travel guide to Belau (the traditional name). Palau is an independent republic since 1990. It was part of the Pacific Islands Trust Territory administered by the United States.

The archipelago of the Western Caroline Islands chain has a population of about 20,000 (2010) people spread across 250 islands.
Capital city of Palau is Ngerulmud in Melekeok state.

Palau occupies an area of395.06 km2 (152.53 sq mi)

Republic of Palau | Beluu er a Belau

Country Profile

Background:
The Republic of Palau with its main island Babeldaob (Babelthuap), is an island nation in the northern Pacific Ocean, located some 700 km east of the Philippines, perched on the Kyushu-Palau Ridge. The westernmost cluster of the Caroline Islands consists of 20 large islands and 566 smaller islands and is one of the world's youngest and least populated nations.
After 47 years as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI), under US administration, Palau (Belau) opted for independence in 1978 rather than join the Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with the US was approved in 1986, but not ratified until 1993. It entered into force the following year, when the islands gained independence.

related countries: Federated States of Micronesia

other Micronesian island nations: Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Northern Mariana Islands

Official Name:
Beluu er a Belau
short form: Belau
int'l long form: Republic of Palau
int'l short form: Palau
formerly: Pelew Islands

ISO Country Code: pw

Time:
Local Time = UTC +9h
Actual Time: Mon-Dec-9 19:09

Country Calling Code: +680

Capital City: Ngerulmud, Melekeok (on the island of Babeldaob)
Koror, the former capital until 6 October 2006.

Government:
Type: Constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 1 October 1994.
Internally self-governed since 1981 until
independence (from U.S.-administered UN trusteeship) on 1 October 1994.
Constitution: 1 January 1981.

Geography:
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the Western Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines.
Area: 459 km² (177 sq. mi.) in eight main islands plus more than 250 islets.
Terrain: A mountainous volcanic main island and smaller, reef-rimmed coral islands.

Climate: Tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November.

People:
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Palauan.
Population: 20,000 (2010)
Ethnic groups: Palauans are Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian elements.
Religion: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Modekngei (an indigenous Palauan religion).
Languages: English (official in all 16 states), Palauan.
Literacy: 92%.

Natural resources: Forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals.

Agriculture products: Coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes.

Industries: Tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), construction, garment making.

Exports - commodities: shellfish, tuna, copra, garments

Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, fuels, metals; foodstuffs

Currency: US dollar (USD)

Note: External links will open in a new browser window.

Official Sites of Palau

Palau Government
Official government website for the Republic of Palau.

Office of the President
Information on Palaus Presidency.

Diplomatic Missions
Embassy of the Republic of Palau
Washington, D.C.

Intergovernmental organisations
Pacific Islands Forum
Inter-governmental organization for the cooperation between the countries of the Pacific Ocean.
Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)
Intergovernmental organisation of the Pacific islands.

Statistics
Office of Planning & Statistics
Palau in figures.

Maps

Map of Palau
Political map of Palau.
Republic of Palau map
Relief map of the islands.

Google Earth Palau
Searchable map and satellite view of the West Pacific Islands and Palau.

Google Earth Ngerulmud
Searchable map and satellite view of Palau's capital in Melekeok State.

Map of Micronesia
Map of the Island States of Micronesia.

Oceania Map
Reference map of Australia/Oceania.

Traditional Meeting House

A 'bai', a traditional men meeting house.


News The Kaselehlie Press FSM's News ??The CocoNET Wireless Australia based Pacific Islands News and Information. Pacific Islands Report Pacific Islands related News. Radio Radio Palau 91.7 FM Radio station Palau	Bookmark/share this page

Arts & Culture

Belau National Museum
Records Palau's past and present through collection, identification, documentation, preservation, interpretation, education and research.

Festival of Pacific Arts, Palau
The Festival of Pacific Arts brings peoples of the Pacific together in a welcoming and social gathering to exchange cultures for mutual understanding and appreciation of one another's culture.

Palauan female dancers


Business & Economy Yellow pages, Palau National Communications Corporation Online business telephone directory. Transportation Palau Air Connections to Darwin, Manila, Guam and Micronesia. (Sevice suspended)

Travel and Tour Consumer Information

Destination Palau - Travel and Tour Guides

Discover Palau: Koror, Angaur, Babeldaob, Kayangel, Ngemelis, Northern Reefs, Peleliu, Rock Islands, Sonsorol, Velasco Reef.
Dive sites: Blue Corner, Chandelier Cave, Big Drop Off, Jellyfish Lake, Blue Holes.
Links to accommodation, hotels, attractions, festivals, events, tourist boards, kayaking, diving, tours and much more see below.

Visit Palau
Information about the island nation by Palau Visitors Authority.

Palau Visitors Authority
Palau information in German.

Palau National Communications Corporation
More visitor information from PNCC, the national carrier for local and international telecommunications services.

Airai
Palau Airai
Beautiful site about Airai, the southernmost state on the island of Babeldaob.

Sonsorol Island
Sonsorol Island(Dongosaro)
The official site of Sonsorol island state.

Scuba Diving
Fish'n Fins
Scuba Diving with Palau's Pioneer Diveshop.

Jane Rresture's Plau page
Images and information about Palau.
Pacific Island Travel
Comprehensive page about Palau's culture, history and nature.
??Palau Islands
Private page provides information about a "Place out of History."


Education Palau Ministry of Education The site provides information on Palau's school system. Palau Community College Institution for post high-school occupational and academic training.

Environment & Nature

Palau Conservation Society
Dedicated to the protection of Palau's environment.
Palau International Coral Reef Center
Established to support a self-sustaining, non-profit coral reef center and marine park that will provide a forum for coral reef studies, research and education.
??Micronesia Water and Wastewater training project
Designed to improve the operation, maintenance, and management of water and wastewater utilities.
South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
The Pacific region's major intergovernmental organisation charged with protecting and managing the environment and natural resources.

Palau's famous Floating Garden Islands


History Ancient Palau About Palau's history. The Legend of Ochaeo Until recently the history of Palau has been passed on from generation to generation by oral tradition, usually in the form of legends or myths. The Legend of Ochaeo, which is one of Palau's newer legends, is popularly accepted as historical, although it is not verifiable.