Palau

Palau or Belau (Palaus: Belau), in full the Republic of Palau (Beluu ęr a Belau) is a country in Oceania. The state is located in the Pacific Ocean and is part of the Micronesia region. Palau occupies the most western part of the Carolinen archipelago, the central and eastern part of this group is occupied by the country of Micronesia. In the country live 21,000 inhabitants spread over 340 islands in the west of the Carolinen archipelago. The largest place in the country is Koror which was also the capital of the country until 7 October 2005. On this date, according to a paragraph in the constitution, the capital had to lie on the largest island of the archipelago, Babeldaob. The capital became Ngerulmud in the state of Melekeok. Palau borders the sea in the west with the Philippines, in the south with Indonesia and in the east with the Federated States of Micronesia.

History

The first residents of Palau were probably from Indonesia. They settled around the 11th century BC on the islands. The Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos discovered the islands in 1543. Only in the 18th century were the first attempts to trade with or settle on the islands by the British. Spain colonized the islands at the end of the 19th century, but sold them to Germany with the German-Spanish Treaty of 12 February 1899. Japan conquered the islands at the beginning of the First World War. After the war, Japan was assigned the Palau Islands as the mandate area of the League of Nations (the South Pacific Mandate Area) until the end of the Second World War. The islands then came under the administration of the United States, as a trust area of the United Nations (the Trustship of the Pacific Islands). In 1979, the people of Palau voted against joining the Federated States of Micronesia and for their own independence. After a transitional period, the country became independent in 1994.

Geography

Palau consists of more than 340 islands, of which at least 12 are inhabited. The islands can be subdivided into the Palau Islands in the north and the much smaller and less populated Southwest Islands in the south, which include fourteen and two of the sixteen states (see below). Most islands are volcanic in origin. The largest island is Babeldaob in the Palau Islands, which makes up 80% of the total land mass of Palau. Babeldaob is mainly volcanic, but the other islands are largely made of limestone and coral. The highest point on Palau is Mount Ngerchelchuus (242 m) on Babeldaob. Also on this island is the largest lake in Palau, Lake Ngardok. This lake is also the largest freshwater mass in all of Micronesia.

Etymology

The language most commonly spoken on the islands, the Palaus, is better known in this language as Belau. This word probably comes from the Palau word for village, Beluu or the word for a creation myth, Aibebelau. The name Palau became known in English and Dutch among others through the Spanish Los Palaos and the German Palau. An old name in English was Pelew Islands, but this is no longer in use. The name Palau should not be confused with the Indonesian word for island, Pulau.

Islands, reefs and rocks

Inhabited island groups and atolls

• Different states: Palai Islands (all states except Hatohobei and Sonsorol) - Southwest Islands (Hatohobei and Sonsorol)
• Hatohobei: Helen Reef
• Kayangel: Kayangel
• Sonsorol: Sonsorol Islands

Inhabited islands

• Different states: Babeldaob (all states except Angaur, Hatohobei, Kayangel, Koror, Peleliu and Sonsorol)
• Angaur: Angaur
• Hatohobei: Hatohobei - Helen
• Kayangel: Kayangel
• Koror: Koror - Malakal - Ngerekebesang
• Peleliu: Peleliu
• Sonsorol: Merir - Pulo Anna - Sonsorol

Uninhabited island groups and atolls

• Kayangel: Ngaruangel
• No state: Chelbach Islands (Rock Islands)

Uninhabited islands

• Kayangel: Ngaruangel - Ngerebelas - Ngeriungs - Orak
• Ngarchelong: Ngaregur
• Peleliu: Ngabad - Ngaregeu - Ngesebus - Ngurungor - Ruriid
• Sonsorol: Fana

Uninhabited reefs and rocks

• Hatohobei: Pieraurou - Round Rock
• Kayangel: Velasco Reef

Administrative layout

The country consists of sixteen states, until 1984 called municipalities. The capital is the town of Ngerulmud in the state of Melekeok, but the largest town is Koror in the state of the same name, which was the capital until 2006. On the country's largest island Babeldaob are ten of the sixteen states. The states are from north to south:

• Kayangel
• Ten states on Babeldoab:
  • Absolutely
  • Airai
  • Ngchesar
  • Melekeok
  • Ngiwal
  • Ngaraard
  • Ngarchelong
  • Ngardmau
  • Ngeremlengui
  • Ngatpang
• Koror
• Peleliu
• Angaur
• The Southwest Islands are two states:
  • Sonsorol
  • Hatohobei

Language

At least seven languages are spoken in Palau:

• Palaus (national), 14,825 speakers
• English (national), number of speakers unknown
• Sonsorolees (in Sonsorol), 600 speakers
• Tobian (in Hatohobei), 22 speakers
• Japanese (in Angaur), number of speakers unknown
• Angaur (on Angaur), official but exist at all and number of speakers unknown
• Chinese languages, important immigrant language group

External relations

Palau maintains four embassies abroad, namely in Manila (Philippines), Taipei (Taiwan), Tokyo (Japan) and Washington DC (United States). In addition, the republic has consulates-general in the Guamese capital Hagåtña and in the Marian capital Saipan and a permanent representation at the United Nations in New York.

Palau is therefore not represented at embassy level in the Dutch language area. There are honorary consulates in Brasschaat in Antwerp for Belgium and in Heiloo in North Holland for the Netherlands.

Economy

Palau lives mainly from tourism, fish (especially tuna), agriculture (especially cassava, coconuts and sweet potatoes), shells, wood, pearls, construction, clothing and garments.

Transport

All three Palau airports are used for commercial scheduled flights, one of them, the Roman Tmetuchl International Airport in the state of Airai on Babeldaob (but near Koror) is also international, and is connected to the Philippines, Guam, Japan, Micronesia and South - Korea - these connections are provided by the Guamese company Continental Micronesia, a subsidiary of the American Continental Airlines. In addition, there are also charter flights from Taiwan.

Domestic flights are from Koror to Peleliu and Angaur (via Peleliu) and are operated by Belau Air, the only Palau airline.

Sport

In 2008, Palau participated for the third time in the Summer Olympics in Beijing. The country has never won medals.