• Nauru:
• Geography

Nauru - Geography

Nauru is a small oval-shaped island in the western Pacific Ocean.

Area: 21.3 sq km

Main towns: Yaren (pop. 4,600 in 2006), Aiwo, Denigomodu, Uaboe, Anabar, Ijuw, Meneng. Nauru has no capital; government offices are in Yaren district.

Topography: Phosphate mining in the central plateau has left a barren terrain of jagged coral pinnacles, up to 15m high. A century of mining has stripped four-fifths of the land area. The island is surrounded by a coral reef, exposed at low tide and dotted with pinnacles. The island has a fertile coastal strip 150–300m wide. Coral cliffs surround the central plateau. The highest point of the plateau is 65m above sea level.

Climate: The climate is tropical, with sea breezes. North-east trade winds blow from March to October. Day temperatures range from 24 to 34°C; average humidity is 80%. Rainfall is erratic and often heavy; average annual rainfall is 2,060mm. The monsoon season is November to February. With the destruction of the forested areas on the plateau land to enable phosphate mining, climate changes have been noted with extensive dry periods. If global warming causes sea level to rise, the habitable low-lying land areas will be at risk from tidal surges and flooding.

Environment: The most significant environmental issues are devastation of some 90% of the island by intensive phosphate mining during most of the 20th century, and dependence on an ageing desalination plant and collection of limited rainwater for water supply.

Vegetation: The only presently fertile areas are the narrow coastal belt, where there are coconut palms, pandanus trees and indigenous hardwoods such as the tomano, and the land surrounding Buada lagoon, where bananas, pineapples and some vegetables are grown. Some secondary vegetation grows over the coral pinnacles.

Wildlife: Many indigenous birds have disappeared or become rare, owing to destruction of their habitat, notably the noddy, or black tern. Frigatebirds have traditionally been caught and tamed.

Transport: A sealed road 19km long circles the island. Other roads run inland to Buada District and the phosphate areas. A 5km railway serves the phosphate workings and carries the phosphate to the dryers preparatory to loading on ships.

The airport is in the south-west of the island. Air Nauru offers services to Guam, Fiji Islands, and Brisbane and Melbourne in Australia.