What is Nauru?
Last updated: Saturday May 8th, 2021
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Origin of the Name
The name "Nauru" may derive from the Nauruan word Anáoero, which means 'I go to the beach.'
Flag
The flag, chosen in a local design competition, was adopted on independence day, 31 January 1968. It depicts Nauru's geographical position, one degree south of the Equator. A gold horizontal stripe representing the Equator runs across a blue field for the Pacific Ocean. Nauru itself is symbolized by a white 12-pointed star. Each point represents one of the 12 indigenous tribes on the island.
Political Geography
Nauru is smallest island country in the world. It has no borders. It has an area about 21 km2 (8.1 sq mi) with 10,670 people. Nauru consists 14 districts. Nauru’s capital is Yaren and biggest city is Denigomodu with only 1,804 people! Other big (uhh...) cities are Meneng, Aiwo and Boe.
Physical Geography
Nauru consists only one island. Nauru is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean. Highest point of Nauru is Command Ridge with 65 m (213 ft) elevation. And it is not a mountain. And the largest lake of the country is Buada Lagoon with 0.13 km2 (0.05 sq mi) area.
History
Nauru was first settled by Micronesian and Polynesian people at least 3,000 years ago. But I’ll tell the history since 1880’s. In 1886, Germany was granted the island under the Anglo-German Declaration. The island was annexed by Germany in 1888 and incorporated into Germany's New Guinea Protectorate. Phosphate was discovered on Nauru in 1900 by the prospector Albert Ellis. The Pacific Phosphate Company started to exploit the reserves in 1906 by agreement with Germany. The company exported its first shipment in 1907. On 6 and 7 December 1940 the Nazi German auxiliary cruisers Orion and Komet sank four merchant ships. On the next day, Komet shelled Nauru's phosphate mining areas, oil storage depots, and the shiploading cantilever. Japanese troops occupied Nauru on 26 August 1942. The native Nauruans were badly treated by the occupying forces. The Japanese troops built an airfield on Nauru which was bombed for the first time on 25 March 1943, preventing food supplies from being flown to Nauru. Nauru was finally set free from the Japanese on 13 September 1945, when Captain Solda, the commander of all the Japanese troops on Nauru, surrendered the island to the Royal Australian Navy and Army. Nauru became self-governing in January 1966. On 31 January 1968, following a two-year constitutional convention, Nauru became the world's smallest independent republic. It was led by founding president Hammer DeRoburt. In 1967, the people of Nauru purchased the assets of the British Phosphate Commissioners, and in June 1970, control passed to the locally owned Nauru Phosphate Corporation. By the close of the twentieth century, the finite phosphate supplies were fast running out. Nauru finally joined the UN in 1999.
Religion and Ethnic Groups
%93 of the population are Christian. %7 belong to other religions and irreligion. There are fewer then ten people who believes Hinduism, Islam and Judaism. And %94 of the population are Nauruan, %2 are I-Kiribati, %1 are Fijian, %1 are Chinese, %1 are Solomon Islander and the others are from other ethnic groups.
Languages
The Nauruan language is the official language of Nauru. English is widely understood and is used for most government and commercial purposes. And is de facto official. According to the 2011 census, 95.3% of the population speaks Nauruan, 66.0% speak English, and 11.9% speak another language.
Fun Facts!
2) Nauru has no armed forces. There are only polices!
3) Elizabeth II has been there.
4) It does have a railway.
5) It was once the world’s richest country.
6) Nauru has no official capital.
7) Nauru is the smallest country with an airport.
Closing
Thank you for reading my blog! This blog was made at YakosaysB0T5WANA’s request. And don’t forget to look my other blogs!
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Once, I read a book telling the whole story of Nauru (relly interesting!), and I almsot cried several times.
If you want an other fun fact, Nauru has already been a rogue state (because of financial issues...). Also, Nauru recognizes Taiwan (just because they earn money doing it...). Nauru was the richest country per capita at the begining of its independance, but today Nauruans are poor. They lost a lot of money, but some scientists think that, in a few year, maybe they will be able to dug a bit more to find phosphate again. But it's not a true solution, in my opinion...