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Geography |
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Capital |
Melekeok (pop. 391). |
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Area |
458 sq. km. (about 190 sq. mi.) in eight main islands plus more than
250 islets. |
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Terrain |
Varies from mountainous main island to smaller,
reef-rimmed coral islands. |
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Climate |
Tropical. |
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The Republic of Palau consists of eight principal islands and more
than 250 smaller ones lying roughly 500 miles southeast of the
Philippines. The islands of Palau constitute part of the Caroline
Islands chain. About 64% of Palauans live in Koror State's capital
city, Koror. (Note: Government offices moved to a new National
Capitol Building complex located at Ngerulmud, Melekeok State.) |
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People |
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Nationality |
Noun and adjective--Palauan. |
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Population |
19,907 (non-Palauan population, 5,469). Age structure: less than 15
years old, 5,152; 16-64 years old, 13,619; more than 65 years old,
1,136. |
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Groups |
Palauans are Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian elements. |
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Religions |
Roman Catholic, Protestant, Modekngei (an indigenous Palauan
religion). |
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Languages |
English (official in all 16 states), Palauan. |
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Government &
History |
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Official Name |
Republic of Palau |
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Government |
Constitutional republic in free association with United
States. |
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Independence |
(from U.S.-administered UN trusteeship): October 1, 1994. |
Palau was initially settled more than 4,000 years ago, probably by
migrants from what today is Indonesia. British traders became
prominent visitors in the 18th century, followed by expanding
Spanish influence in the 19th century. Following its defeat in the
Spanish-American War, Spain sold Palau and most of the rest of the
Caroline Islands to Germany in 1899. Control passed to Japan in 1914
and then to the United States under UN auspices in 1947 as part of
the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
Four of the Trust Territory districts formed a single federated
Micronesian state in 1979, but this eventually dissolved as the
individual districts--long culturally distinct--opted for more
locally popular status. Palau approved a new constitution in 1981,
subsequently signing a Compact of Free Association with the United
States in 1982. After eight referenda and an amendment to the
Palauan constitution, the Compact went into effect on October 1,
1994, marking Palau's emergence from trusteeship to independence. |
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