Palau

Palau (7° 30' N, 133° 30' E) Palau, Micronesia is situated among the Western Caroline Islands on the western Pacific rim, approximately 600 km from the nearest large landmasses (Papua New Guinea to the south and the Philippines to the west). It is comprised of over 400 limestone and volcanic islands.

History

Palau has been occupied by humans for at least 3500 years although it is unknown who the first settlers of the islands were . As part of the Carolinian archipelago, the islands were sighted by European navigators as early as the 16th century. In 1686, the Spanish explorer Francisco Lezcano named Yap Island (now in the Federated States of Micronesia) "La Carolina" after King Charles II of Spain. The name was later generalized to include all the islands. Spanish sovereignty was established in 1885. In 1899, after Spain's defeat in the Spanish-American War of 1898, Palau, with the rest of the Carolines, was sold to Germany. At the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the islands were taken by the Japanese. As a member of the League of Nations, Japan was given a mandate over Palau in 1920, and Koror was developed as an administrative center of Japanese possessions in the north Pacific. In 1947, following occupation by US forces in World War II, Palau became part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, which was administered by the United States. 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

Area

total: 458 sq km land: 458 sq km water: 0 sq km Coastline: 1,519 km lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m

Human Population=

20,842 (July 2007 est.) Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 69.9%, Filipino 15.3%, Chinese 4.9%, other Asian 2.4%, white 1.9%, Carolinian 1.4%, other Micronesian 1.1%, other or unspecified 3.2% (2000 census)

WWII history

Palau was the scene of significant combat during WWII. Task force 58’s operation DESECRATE ONE on March 30-31, 1944, more than 60 Japanese ships were sunk . The attack involved U.S. carrier based aircraft attacking Japanese shipping and land based targets situated throughout the Rock Islands and on the main islands.

Peleliu

One of the bloodiest land battles of the U.S. led Pacific campaign began on Sept. 15th, 1944 when the 1st marine Division landed on the beaches of Peleliu island near the southern end of the archipelago with the intent of taking what was considered a strategic airfield. The 15 square mile island was reportedly defended by upwards of 13,000 well entrenched Japanese troops and the invading U.S. Marines fielded as many as 20,000 troops . Following more than 70 days of fighting, a Japanese commander surrendered. By that time more than 1,500 U.S. servicemen had been killed and more than 10,000 Japanese servicemen had died .

Diving

Palau is world-renowned for its diving. Situated just of the Palau trench, deep water up-welling creates an ideal environment for a rich and abundant marine life. Famous dive localities include Blue Corner, Blue Hole and diving the many WWII wrecks.