Beluu er a Belau Republic of Palau
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: Belau loba klisiich er a kelulul
Capital		Melekeok1 7°21′N 134°28′E / 7.35, 134.467
Largest city		Koror
Official languages		English, Palauan,
Recognised regional languages		Japanese, Angaur, (in Angaur) Sonsorolese, (in Sonsoral) Tobian, (in Hatohobei), Carolinian, Filipino, Chinese
Demonym		Palauan
Government		Democratic Presidential Republic
-	President	Tommy Remengesau
-	Vice president	Elias Camsek Chin
Independence		from UN Trust Territory
-	Date	October 1, 1994
Area
-	Total	459 km² (195th) 177 sq mi
-	Water (%)	negligible
Population
-	July 2007 estimate	20,842 (217th)
-	Density	43/km² (155th) 111/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2006 estimate
-	Total	$157. The flag of Palau was adopted on January 1, 1981. When the island group separated from the United Nations Trust Territory it adopted this flag The Coat of arms of Palau resembles the previous seal of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and reads "Olbiil era kelulau-Republic of Palau" A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history traditions and struggles of its people recognized either by a nation's Belau rekid (Our Palau is the National anthem of Palau. It was officially adopted in 1980. Melekeok (məˈleɪkeɪoʊk in English is a town and one of Palau 's sixteen states. About 70% of the Palauan population lives in the capital city of Koror on Koror Island. Koror is the state comprising the main commercial center of the Republic of Palau. An official language is a Language that is given a special legal status in a particular Country, State, or other territory English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Palauan (also spelled Belauan) is one of the two nationally recognized official languages spoken in the Republic of Palau (the second being English A regional language is a Language spoken in an area of a Nation state, whether it be a small area a federal State or Province, or is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities Angaur or Angaurese is one of the three Official languages of the island state of Angaur in Palau, the other two being Japanese and The Sonsorolese language is a language spoken in Palau, on the island of Sonsorol, and the Northern Mariana Islands, by about 600 people Tobian (Tobian ramarih Hatohobei, literally "the language of Tobi" is the language of Tobi, one of the Southwest Islands of Palau and Carolinian is an Austronesian language spoken in the Northern Mariana Islands, where it is an official language along with English and Chamorro Filipino is the national and an Official language of the Philippines as designated in the 1987 Philippine Constitution. A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a People or the inhabitants of a place For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principles of the people's representatives A presidential system is a System of government where an executive branch exists and presides (hence the term separately from the Legislature A republic is a State or Country that is not led by a hereditary Monarch, but in which the people (or at least a part of its people have impact on its List of Presidents of Palau See also Vice-President of Palau High Commissioner of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Thomas Esang Remengesau Jr (born February 28, 1956 in Koror Palau) is the president of Palau. List of Vice-Presidents of Palau See also President of Palau Elias Camsek Chin (born 10 October 1949) has been Vice-President of Palau since 1 January 2005. Independence is the Self-government of a Nation, Country, or State by its residents and population or some portion thereof generally exercising Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. To help compare different Orders of magnitude and geographical regions we list here areas between 100 km² and 1000 km² This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by total area. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. In Mathematics, a percentage is a way of expressing a number as a Fraction of 100 ( per cent meaning "per hundred" In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology List of countries by population in 2005|List of countries by population in 1907This is a list of countries ordered according to Population. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume List of countries and dependencies by Population density in inhabitants/km² The purchasing power parity ( PPP) theory uses the long-term equilibrium Exchange rate of two currencies to equalize their Purchasing power. 7 million² (not ranked)
-	Per capita	$10,000 (2006 est. There are three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head with Per meaning 'through' or 'by' ) (not ranked)
HDI (2003)		n/a (unranked) (n/a)
Currency		US Dollar (USD)
Time zone		(UTC+9)
Internet TLD		.pw
Calling code		+680
1 On 7 October 2006, government officials moved their offices in the former capital of Koror to Melekeok, located 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Koror on Babelthaup Island. This article includes three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP at Purchasing power parity (PPP Per capita The Human Development Index ( HDI) is an index combining normalized measures of Life expectancy, Literacy, Educational attainment, and GDP This is a list of countries by Human Development Index as included in the United Nations Development Program 's Human Development Report 2007 A currency is a unit of exchange, facilitating the transfer of Goods and/or services It is one form of Money, where money is The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been ISO 4217 is the International standard describing three-letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established A country This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E Events 3761 BC - The epoch (origin of the modern Hebrew calendar ( Proleptic Julian calendar) Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Koror is the state comprising the main commercial center of the Republic of Palau. Melekeok (məˈleɪkeɪoʊk in English is a town and one of Palau 's sixteen states. ² GDP estimate includes US subsidy (2004 est. )

Palau (pronounced /pəˈlaʊ/), officially the Republic of Palau (Palauan: Beluu er a Belau), is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, some 500 miles (800 km) east of the Philippines and 2000 miles (3200 km) south of Tokyo. Palauan (also spelled Belauan) is one of the two nationally recognized official languages spoken in the Republic of Palau (the second being English This is a list of island countries. An " Island country " also called a borderless country, is an insular territory over which a nation-state maintains The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP officially, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. Having emerged from United Nations trusteeship (administered by the United States) in 1994, it is one of the world's youngest and smallest nations. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security The United Nations Trusteeship Council, one of the principal organs of the United Nations, was established to help ensure that non-self-governing territories were administered The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Below is a list of countries by formation dates, sorted by continent In 1989 Palau was ranked and listed by CEDAM International as the ranking Number 1 Underwater Wonder of the World out of the seven underwater wonders. It is sometimes referred to in English under its native name Belau.

History

Main article: History of Palau

Archaeology

Early Palauans may have come from Australia, Polynesia and Asia. Palau was initially settled over 4000 years ago probably by migrants from what today is Indonesia. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Polynesia (from Greek: πολύς many, νῆσος island) is a Subregion of Oceania, comprising a large grouping of over Depending on the thread of the family, Palauans may indeed represent many parts of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. Palau, officially the Republic of Palau (Beluu er a Belau is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, some 500 miles (800  km) east Melanesia (from Greek: μέλας black, νῆσος island) means "islands of the black-skinned people" Micronesia, from the Greek mikros (μικρός (meaning small) and nesos (νῆσος (meaning island) is a Subregion However, it is traditionally considered to be Micronesian. According to geneticists, there are two distinctive strains of Melanesian bloodlines: one is associated with indigenous Australians/Papua New Guineans and the other is known to have originated in Asia. Papua New Guinea (or ˈpæpjuːə in Tok Pisin: Papua Niugini) officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania There has not been any link established between the two.

Until recently, Palau was not considered a part of Micronesia. Micronesia, from the Greek mikros (μικρός (meaning small) and nesos (νῆσος (meaning island) is a Subregion In the European and Australian world Belau/Pelew is better known by the name of "The Black Islands". Vintage maps and village drawings can be found at the Australian library online, as well as photos of the tattooed and pierced Ibedul of Koror and Ludee.

Carbon dating and recent archaeological discoveries have brought new attention to the archipelago. Cemeteries uncovered in islands have shown Palau has the oldest burial ceremony known to Oceania. Prior to this there has been much dispute as to whether Palau was established during 2500 BC or 1000 BC. New studies seem to dispute both of these findings. Moreover, Palau's ancient trading partner, Java, has also come under close scrutiny since Homo floresiensis was found. Homo floresiensis ("Man of Flores " nicknamed Hobbit) is a possible Species in the Genus Homo Like Flores remains of small-bodied humans have been found in Palau. ^[1]

For thousands of years, Palauans have had a well established matrilineal society, believed to have descended from Javanese precedents. Traditionally, land, money, and titles passed through the female line. Clan lands continue to be passed through titled women and first daughters^[2] but there is also a modern patrilineal sentiment introduced by imperial Japan. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The Japanese government attempted to confiscate and redistribute tribal land into personal ownership during World War II, and there has been little attempt to restore the old order. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Legal entanglements continue amongst the various clans. ^[3]

European contact

Historians take interest in the early navigational routes of European explorers in the Pacific. There is a certain controversy as to whether Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos, who landed in several Caroline Islands, spotted the Palau archipielago in 1543. Ruy López de Villalobos (b 1500 - d 1544 was a Spanish explorer who sailed the Pacific from Mexico ( New Spain) to establish a The Caroline Islands form a large Archipelago of widely scattered islands in the western Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Guinea. No conclusive evidence exists but there are some who think he could have seen the tip of a southernmost island in the group.

Palau had limited relations—mainly with Yap and Java. Yap, also known as Wa'ab for locals is an Island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. Java (Jawa is an Island of Indonesia and the site of its Capital city Jakarta. Had it not have been for ship-wrecked islanders who accidentally took refuge in the Philippines, Europeans likely would not have found a route to Palau until much later. English Captain Henry Wilson also shipwrecked off the island of Ulong in 1783. Henry Wilson was captain of the British East India Company 's Packet ship ''Antelope'', when it shipwrecked off Ulong near Koror Island ^[4] Wilson dubbed Palau the “Pelew Islands”.

Spanish rule

Like the Mariana Islands, the Caroline Islands and the Marshall Islands, Palau was part of the Spanish East Indies, and was administered from the Spanish Philippines until the Spanish-American War of 1898. The Mariana Islands (also the Marianas; up to the early 20th century sometimes called Ladrones Islands, from Spanish Islas de los Ladrones meaning The Caroline Islands form a large Archipelago of widely scattered islands in the western Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Guinea. The Marshall Islands, officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI is a Micronesian nation of islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean Spanish East Indies ( Indias Orientales Españolas) was a term used to describe Spanish possessions in Asia-Pacific which lasted over three centuries The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP

In 1885, after Germany occupied some of the islands, a dispute was brought to Pope Leo XIII, who made an attempt to legitimize the Spanish claim to the islands (but with economic concessions for Britain and Germany). Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Pope Leo XIII ( March 2, 1810 – July 20, 1903) born Count Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci, was the 256th Pope Spain in 1899, after defeat during the Spanish-American War, sold the islands to Germany in the 1899 German-Spanish Treaty. ^[5][6]

German Era

After the Spanish sold the islands to Germany, the Germans began an economic transformation in Micronesia. The Germans began mining bauxite (an aluminum ore), Phosphate, and other resources. Bauxite is the most important Aluminium Ore. It consists largely of the minerals Gibbsite Al(OH3 Boehmite γ-AlO(OH and A phosphate, an Inorganic chemical, is a salt of Phosphoric acid. The islands were also administered by German New Guinea. Mining continued throughout Micronesia even after the Germans lost the islands to Japan under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, after World War I. The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. The Japanese continued and expanded the mining operations.

Japanese rule

Koror in the Japanese Period

During World War I, under the terms of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, the Empire of Japan declared war on the German Empire and invaded German overseas territories in the Pacific Ocean, including the Palau Islands. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All The first was signed in London at what is now the Lansdowne Club on January 30 1902, by Lord Lansdowne (British foreign secretary) and The Empire of Japan ( {{unicode|Kyūjitai}}: ja 大日本帝國 Shinjitai: ja 大日本帝国 pronounced Dai Nippon Teikoku The German Empire is the name commonly used in English to describe Germany from 1871 to 1918 when it was a semi- Constitutional monarchy: beginning with the Unification The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions Following Germany's defeat, the League of Nations formally awarded Palau to Japan as a Class C League of Nations Mandate. The League of Nations was an International organization founded as a result of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919–1920 A League of Nations mandate refers to a legal status for certain territories transferred from the control of one country to another following World War I. ^[7]

Under the terms of a “Class C Mandate” Japan incorporated the islands as an integral part of its empire, establishing the Nanyo-cho government. The was the Japanese League of Nations Mandate consisting of several groups of islands in the Pacific Ocean which came under the administration of Japan ^[8] Initially under Imperial Japanese Navy administration, civilian control was introduced from 1922, and Palau was one of six administrative districts within the Mandate. For Combined Fleet, please see that article For Carrier Striking Task Force, please see that article Japan mounted an aggressive economic development program and promoted immigration by Japanese, Okinawans and Koreans. Economic development is the development of economic wealth of countries or regions for the well-being of their inhabitants The are the dominant Ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent of these approximately 127 million are residents of Japan The Korean people are an East Asian Ethnic group. Most Koreans speak the Korean language. During this period, the Japanese established bonito (tuna production) and copra processing plants in Palau. Bonito (Spanish and Portuguese for "beautiful" is a name given to various species of medium-sized Predatory fish of the genus Sarda, in the Mackerel Copra is the dried meat or kernel of the Coconut. The name copra is derived from the Malayalam word kopra for dried coconut

World War II

Peleliu was the scene of intense fighting between American and Japanese forces beginning September 1944 resulting in an Allied victory, though the cost in human terms was high for both sides. The Battle of Peleliu, codenamed Operation Stalemate II, was fought between the United States and Japan in the Pacific Theater of World After WWII, the United Nations played a role in deciding the U. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security S. would administer Palau as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI was a United Nations trust territory in Micronesia (western Pacific) administered by the United Eventually, in 1979, Palauans voted against joining the Federated States of Micronesia based on language and cultural differences. The Federated States of Micronesia is an Island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, north of Papua New Guinea. After a long period of transition, including the violent deaths of two presidents (Haruo Remeliik in 1985 and Lazarus Salii in 1988), Palau voted to freely associate with the United States in 1994 while opting to retain independence under the Compact of Free Association. Haruo Ignacio Remeliik ( 1 June 1933 &ndash 30 June 1985) was a politician from Palau. Lazarus Eitaro Salii (1935&ndash 20 August 1988) was a politician from Palau. The Compact of Free Association ( COFA) defines the relationship that three sovereign states—the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM the Republic of the Marshall

There are still roughly 100 American service members listed as Missing In Action (MIA) in Palau since WWII. Since 1993, a small group of American volunteers called The BentProp Project have searched the waters and jungles of Palau to attempt to locate information that can lead to the identification and recovery of remains of these American MIAs. The BentProp Project is a small all-volunteer group of individuals whose common goal is gathering information that can lead to the location identification and repatriation of remains

Government

Main article: Politics of Palau

The New Capitol building in Palau

Politics of Palau takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Palau is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Politics of Palau takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic Republic, whereby the President of Palau is both Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principles of the people's representatives List of Presidents of Palau See also Vice-President of Palau High Commissioner of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Head of state is the generic term for the individual or collective office that serves as the chief public representative of a Monarchic or Republican Nation-state This article focuses on the cases where the Head of Government is a separate office from the Head of State A multi-party system is a system in which three or more political parties have the capacity to gain control of government separately or in coalition Executive power is exercised by the government. In Political science and Constitutional law, the executive is the branch of government responsible for the day-to-day management of the State. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Palau National Congress. A legislature is a type of representative Deliberative assembly with the power to create amend and change Laws The law created by a legislature is called Legislation Palau has bicameral Legislature, the Palau National Congress ( Olbiil era Kelulau) consisting of the House of Delegates and the Senate of Palau The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. In Law, the judiciary or judicial system is the system of Courts which administer Justice in the name of the sovereign or State

Foreign relations

Palau gained its independence October 1, 1994, when the Compact of Free Association with the United States came into force. Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) Palau was the last portion of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands to gain its independence. The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI was a United Nations trust territory in Micronesia (western Pacific) administered by the United Under the Compact, the U. S. remains responsible for Palau's defense for 50 years, and Palauans are allowed to serve in the U. S. military without having to possess permanent residency in the U. S.

Palau is a sovereign nation and conducts its own foreign relations. Since independence, Palau has established diplomatic relations with a number of nations, including many of its Pacific neighbors. Palau was admitted to the United Nations on December 15, 1994, and has since joined several other international organizations. Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) In September 2006, Palau hosted the first Taiwan-Pacific Allies Summit, and its President has gone on several official visits to other Pacific countries, including the Republic of China (Taiwan). REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES

The United States maintains the usual diplomatic delegation and an embassy in Palau, but most aspects of the two countries' relationship have to do with Compact-funded projects, which are the responsibility of the U. S. Department of the Interior's Office of Insular Affairs. The United States Department of the Interior ( DOI) is a Cabinet department of the United States government that manages and conserves most federally The Office of Insular Affairs is a unit of the United States Department of the Interior that oversees federal administration of several United States possessions ^[9] This has led to some ambiguity in the official status of Palau, though regarded as de jure independent.

Nuclear-free constitution

In 1981, Palau voted for the world's first nuclear-free constitution. However, this delayed Palau's independence as it also wanted a Compact of Free Association with the United States, which the U. The Compact of Free Association ( COFA) defines the relationship that three sovereign states—the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM the Republic of the Marshall S. would not agree to as long as the anti-nuclear clause was in place; thus the United Nations delayed terminating the U. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security S. trusteeship. Palauan independence was finally achieved after the anti-nuclear clause was repealed.

One of the notable aspects of the Palauan resistance to nuclear research is the leadership of women activists such as Cita Morei and Isabella Sumang. Cita or Elicita Morei is a women's liberation and anti-nuclear weapons activist and writer

States

Main article: States of Palau

The sixteen states of Palau

Palau is divided into sixteen states (until 1984 called municipalities):

• Aimeliik
• Airai
• Angaur
• Hatohobei
• Kayangel
• Koror
• Melekeok
• Ngaraard
• Ngarchelong
• Ngardmau
• Ngatpang
• Ngchesar
• Ngeremlengui
• Ngiwal
• Peleliu
• Sonsorol

The uninhabited Rock Islands of Palau have historically been part of the State of Koror. Palau is divided into sixteen administrative regions called states (the Rock Islands are not a state and do not belong to any state although they are aligned with the state of Koror Aimeliik is an administrative division of the island country of Palau. Airai, located on the southern coast of Babeldaob island is the second-most populous state of Palau. Angaur (or Ngeaur) is an island in the island nation of Palau. Tobi, or Hatohobei ( Tobian language) is the southernmost of Palau 's sixteen states, consisting of Tobi Island and uninhabited Kayangel ( Ngcheangel) is the northernmost state of Palau 24  km north of Koror. Koror is the state comprising the main commercial center of the Republic of Palau. Melekeok (məˈleɪkeɪoʊk in English is a town and one of Palau 's sixteen states. Ngaraard is the eighth state of the Republic of Palau, and was originally named Kerradel Ngarchelong is the name of an administrative division of the country of Palau. Ngardmau is one of Palau 's sixteen states and is located on the west side of Babeldaob between the states of Ngaraard and Ngeremlengui. Ngatpang is one of Palau 's sixteen states. It comprises an area of around 47 square kilometers in the west of Palau's largest island Babeldaob, facing Ngchesar is in Palau. It is also the location of the Mangrove trees where shrimp and prawns thrive Ngeremlengui is one of Palau 's sixteen states. Ngiwal is a small village of 250 people on the east side of Babeldaob, Palau. Peleliu (or Beliliou) is an island in the island nation of Palau. Sonsorol is one of the sixteen states of Palau. The administrative center is Sonsorol ( Dongosaro) island The Rock Islands of Palau, also called Chelbacheb, are a small collection of Limestone

Geography

Geography of Palau

The Republic of Palau

Palau's most populated islands are Angaur, Babeldaob, Koror, and Peleliu. The Republic of Palau consists of eight principal islands and more than 250 smaller ones lying roughly 500 miles southeast of the Philippines. Angaur (or Ngeaur) is an island in the island nation of Palau. Babeldaob (also Babelthuap) is the largest island in the island nation of Palau. Koror is the state comprising the main commercial center of the Republic of Palau. Peleliu (or Beliliou) is an island in the island nation of Palau. The latter three lie together within the same barrier reef, while Angaur is an Oceanic Island several miles to the South. About two-thirds of the population lives on Koror. The coral atoll of Kayangel is situated north of these islands, while the uninhabited Rock Islands (about 200) are situated to the west of the main island group. Corals are Marine organisms from the class Anthozoa and exist as small Sea anemone –like Polyps typically in colonies of many An atoll (pronounced /ˈætʌl/ is an island of Coral that encircles a Lagoon partially or completely Kayangel ( Ngcheangel) is the northernmost state of Palau 24  km north of Koror. The Rock Islands of Palau, also called Chelbacheb, are a small collection of Limestone A remote group of six islands, known as the Southwest Islands, some 375 miles (600 km) from the main islands, are also part of the country and make up the States of Hatohobei and Sonsorol. The Southwest Islands of Palau are several small islands spread across the Pacific Ocean, about 600 km from the main island chain of Palau

Koror-Babeldaob Bridge.

Climate

Palau enjoys a tropical climate all year round with an annual mean temperature of 82 °F (27 °C). Climate encompasses the temperatures humidity rainfall atmospheric particle count and numerous other meteorogical factors in a given region over long periods of Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736 a German Physicist who proposed it in 1724 The Celsius Temperature scale was previously known as the centigrade scale. Rainfall can occur throughout the year, averaging a total of 150 inches (3,800 mm). Inches redirects here To see the Les Savy Fav album see Inches. The average humidity over the course of the year is 82%, and although rain falls more frequently between July and October, there is still much sunshine. Typhoons are rare, as Palau is outside the main typhoon zone. A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a low pressure center and numerous Thunderstorms that produce strong winds and Flooding

Environment

While much of Palau's natural environment remains free of environmental degradation, there are several areas of concern, including illegal fishing with the use of dynamite, inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste in Koror, and extensive sand and coral dredging in the Palau lagoon. Koror is the state comprising the main commercial center of the Republic of Palau. Like the other Pacific island nations, a potential major environmental threat is global warming and the related rising of sea level. Water coverage of low-lying areas is a threat to coastal vegetation, agriculture, and the purity of the nation's water supply. Palau also has a problem with inadequate water supply and limited agricultural areas to support the size of the population. The nation is also vulnerable to earthquakes, volcanic activity, and tropical storms. Sewage treatment is a problem, along with the handling of toxic waste from fertilizers and biocides.

On November 5, 2005, President of Palau Tommy E. Events 1499 - Publication of the Catholicon in Treguier ( Brittany) Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Remengesau, Jr. took the lead on a regional environmental initiative called the Micronesia challenge, which would conserve 30 percent of near shore coastal waters and 20 percent of forest land by 2020. The Micronesia Challenge is a regional inter-governmental initiative in the western Pacific region that would facilitate more effective conservation of marine and forest 2020 ( MMXX) will be a Leap year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. In addition to Palau, the initiative was joined by the Federated States of Micronesia and Marshall Islands, and the U. The Federated States of Micronesia is an Island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, north of Papua New Guinea. The Marshall Islands, officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI is a Micronesian nation of islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean S. territories of Guam and Northern Mariana Islands. Guam ( Chamorro: cha Guåhån) officially the Territory of Guam, is an island in the western Pacific Ocean and is an organized unincorporated The Northern Mariana Islands, officially the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI is a commonwealth in Political union with the United Together, this combined region represents nearly 5 percent of the marine area of the Pacific Ocean and 7 percent of its coastlines.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Palau

The economy consists primarily of tourism, subsistence agriculture, and fishing. The economy of Palau consists primarily of Subsistence agriculture and fishing Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel Subsistence agriculture is self-sufficient farming in which farmers grow only enough food to feed the family and to pay taxes or feudal dues For the computer security term see Phishing. Fishing is the activity of catching Fish. Tourist activity focuses on scuba diving and snorkeling in the islands' rich marine environment, including the Floating Garden Islands to the west of Koror and the Rock Islands to the south. The government is the major employer of the work force, relying heavily on financial assistance from the US. Business and tourist arrivals numbered 50,000 in the financial year 2000/2001. The population enjoys a per capita income twice that of the Philippines and much of Micronesia. Micronesia, from the Greek mikros (μικρός (meaning small) and nesos (νῆσος (meaning island) is a Subregion Long-term prospects for the key tourist sector have been greatly bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific, the rising prosperity of leading East Asian countries, and the willingness of foreigners to finance infrastructure development.

In July 2004, Palau Micronesia Air was launched with service from Palau to Yap, Guam, Micronesia, Saipan, Australia, and the Philippines. Palau Micronesia Air was an Airline based in Palau. It operated services under the Air New Zealand air operators certificate Yap, also known as Wa'ab for locals is an Island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. Guam ( Chamorro: cha Guåhån) officially the Territory of Guam, is an island in the western Pacific Ocean and is an organized unincorporated Micronesia, from the Greek mikros (μικρός (meaning small) and nesos (νῆσος (meaning island) is a Subregion Saipan (saɪˈpæn /saɪˈpɑn/ or /ˈsaɪpæn/ in English is the largest Island and Capital of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP It was thought of giving Continental Micronesia a run for its money due to the low fares which it offered to its passengers, however it has ceased operations in December of the same year, mainly because the airline began operating at a time where fuel prices were skyrocketing and also because the cost of operation had been much more than anticipated. Continental Micronesia is a wholly owned subsidiary Airline of Continental Airlines. Palau Micronesia Air has not restarted operations since but has made a codeshare alliance with Asian Spirit, a carrier that operates flights between Palau and the Philippines (Davao, Cebu, and Manila) and is much more affordable than Continental Micronesia. Palau Micronesia Air was an Airline based in Palau. It operated services under the Air New Zealand air operators certificate Code sharing is a business term which was first originated in the airline industry in 1990 when the Australian airline Qantas Airways and the U The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP Davao Region, designated as Region XI, is one of the regions of the Philippines, located on the southeastern portion of Mindanao. Cebu is one of the Provinces of the Philippines. It lies to the east of Negros Island; to the west of Leyte and to the southeast is Bohol The City of Manila Continental Micronesia is a wholly owned subsidiary Airline of Continental Airlines. There are two flights weekly Manila via Cebu to Palau and one flight weekly from Davao. The flight costs $230 from Davao and $280 from Manila with one week advance booking. (Stand May 4. 2007)

Taxes are moderate, the income tax has 3 brackets with medium rates (9. 3%, 15% and 19. 6%), corporate tax is 14% and general sales tax is 7. Corporate tax refers to a Tax levied by various jurisdictions on the Profits made by companies or associations. A sales tax is a Consumption tax charged at the Point of purchase for certain goods and services 5%. There are no property taxes. Property tax, or millage tax, is an Ad valorem tax that an owner pays on the value of the property being taxed

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Palau

The population of Palau is approximately 21,000, of whom 70% are native Palauans, who are of mixed Melanesian, Micronesian, and Malayan descent. About 70% of the Palauan population lives in the capital city of Koror on Koror Island. Melanesia (from Greek: μέλας black, νῆσος island) means "islands of the black-skinned people" Micronesia, from the Greek mikros (μικρός (meaning small) and nesos (νῆσος (meaning island) is a Subregion Filipinos form the second largest ethnic group. Filipinos or the Filipino people are the citizens of the Philippines. Other Asians and Europeans account for the minority groups. Asian or Asiatic is a Demonym for people from Asia. However the use of the term varies by country and person often referring to people from a particular The European peoples are the various Nations and Ethnic groups of Europe.

Three quarters of the population are Christians (mainly Roman Catholics and Protestants), while Modekngei (a combination of Christianity, traditional Palauan religion and fortune telling) and the ancient Palauan religion are commonly observed. A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Modekngei, or Ngara Modekngei (United Sect is a monotheistic religious movement founded around 1915 by Temedad, a native of the island of Babeldaob According to the 2005 census^[10] 49. 4% of the population are Roman Catholics, 21. 3% Protestants, 8. 7% Modekngei and 5. 3% Seventh-day Adventists.

The official languages of Palau are Palauan and English, except for two states (Sonsorol and Hatohobei) where the local language, along with Palauan, is official. Palauan (also spelled Belauan) is one of the two nationally recognized official languages spoken in the Republic of Palau (the second being English English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Japanese is also spoken widely amongst older Palauans, and, indeed, retains official status in the State of Angaur. is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities Angaur (or Ngeaur) is an island in the island nation of Palau. (It is to be noted that Kuniwo Nakamura, President of Palau 1993-2001, is himself of Japanese extraction). Kuniwo Nakamura (born 1943 was the President and foreign minister of Palau from 1993 until 2001 List of Presidents of Palau See also Vice-President of Palau High Commissioner of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. The are the dominant Ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent of these approximately 127 million are residents of Japan Tagalog is not official in Palau, but it is the 4th largest spoken language. Tagalog is one of the major languages used in the Philippines.

Culture

Main articles: Culture of Palau and Music of Palau

See also: Palauan language

Libraries and museums

There is a small public library in Koror, with a collection comprising about 17,000 books. Palau is a Micronesian island nation in the Pacific Ocean. Its musical heritage is of Micronesian origin but has been supplemented with influences from the United Palauan (also spelled Belauan) is one of the two nationally recognized official languages spoken in the Republic of Palau (the second being English The Belau National Museum, established in 1973, is also located in Koror.

Transport

Palau International Airport provides scheduled direct flights to Guam, Taipei and Manila. Guam ( Chamorro: cha Guåhån) officially the Territory of Guam, is an island in the western Pacific Ocean and is an organized unincorporated Taipei ( Taiwanese Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tâi-pak-chhī Jhuyin Fuhao: ㄊㄞˊ ㄅㄟˇ ㄕˋ Hakka: Thòi-pet-sṳ has been the capital of The City of Manila There are two other airports in the country, both with unpaved runways.

Freight and cruise ships call at Malakal Harbor, on Malakal Island outside Koror. Malakal Island ("Ngemelachel" in Palauan) is an Island in the state of Koror Palau. Koror is the state comprising the main commercial center of the Republic of Palau.

The country has no railways, and almost half of the roads are unpaved (of the 61 km/38 mi of highways, only 36 km/22 mi are paved). Driving is on the right and the speed limit is 40 km/h (25 mph). Taxis are available in Koror. They are not metered and fares are negotiable. Only Koror maintains a bus service. Transportation between islands mostly relies on private boats.

In the media

Logo for the tenth season of "Survivor. " The national media exposure helped to boost tourism in Palau.

The nation was the site of the American reality television program Survivor: Palau, airing February 17 to May 15, 2005, as the Survivor franchise's 10th edition. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Reality television is a genre of Television programming which presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations documents actual events and usually features ordinary Survivor Palau is the tenth installment of the Reality television show Survivor. Survivor is an American version of the Survivor Reality television Game show based on the Swedish television It is also the location of Survivor: Micronesia, airing in the spring of 2008. Survivor Micronesia - Fans vs Favorites was the sixteenth season of the CBS Reality television series Survivor. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common

See also

• Foreign relations of Palau
• List of Palauans
• List of radio stations in Palau
• List of wettest known tropical cyclones in Palau
• Military of Palau
• Palau at the Olympics
• Public holidays in Palau
• Scouting in Palau
• BentProp Project
• Micronesia challenge
• Palau Community College
• Communications in Palau
• Transportation in Palau

References

External links

• Official Site of the Republic of Palau
• Palau National Congress - Olbiil Era Kelulau, Senate
• Palau at the Open Directory Project
• Wikia has a wiki on this subject: Palau
• Palau travel guide from Wikitravel
• Wikimedia Atlas of Palau