Palau: Background & Geography

Introduction Palau
Background:
 After three decades as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific under US administration, this westernmost cluster of the Caroline Islands 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.
Geography Palau
Location:
 Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines
Geographic coordinates:
 7 30 N, 134 30 E
Map references:
 Oceania
Area:
 total: 458 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 458 sq km
Area - comparative:
 slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
 0 km
Coastline:
 1,519 km
Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
 territorial sea: 3 NM
extended fishing zone: 200 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 12 NM
Climate:
 Tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November
Terrain:
 varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs
Elevation extremes:
 lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m
Natural resources:
 forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals
Land use:
 arable land: 21.74%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 78.26% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
 NA sq km
Natural hazards:
 typhoons (June to December)
Environment - current issues:
 inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing practices, and overfishing
Environment - international agreements:
 party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
 westernmost archipelago in the Caroline chain, consists of six island groups totaling more than 300 islands; includes World War II battleground of Beliliou (Peleliu) and world-famous rock islands

See Also: