The map of Palau shows the island with boundaries, national capital along the airport.
Palau is located in the western area of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises around 340 volcanic and coral islands well-adjusted on the Kyushu-Palau Edge. The archipelago of Palau lies in the southwest angle of Micronesia with Guam almost 1,330 km in the northeast, New Guinea 650 km in the South, and the Philippines 890 km in the west. A gigantic fence reef system, constant on the west and wrecked on the east, encloses the majority of the archipelago. Palau shares its nautical borders with international waters in the north, the Philippines in the west, Indonesia in the south, the Philippines in the west, and Micronesia in the east.
Demography of Palau
The total population of Palau, as per the UN data is 18094 as of Oct 2020. The majorly populated islands of Palau are Malakal, Koror, Peleliu, Arakabesan, and Babelthuap (Babeldaob); while the thinly inhabited islands include Kayangel Islands in Babelthuap’s North and the upraised coral islets of Sonsorol, Angaur, Tobi south of Peleliu lying at the exterior of barrier ridge system and the Pulo Anna. Approximately 70% of the people of Palau live in Koror city (Koror Island). Koror was the earlier capital of Palau; while the current capital city is Ngerulmud, on Babelthuap (the larger but less developed island). Babelthuap is the 2nd- the largest island in Guam and Micronesia. Basis the landmass and the population size of Palau, the population density is around 121 people/sq mile. Notably, the Palauan population has witnessed substantial growth and it has doubled since the 1970s.
Culture of Palau
The culture of Palau is majorly influenced by the American and Japanese culture that has shaped modern-day Palau. You can even see the flavor of American and Asian cuisine across the islands. Baseball is the national sport of Palau; the sport was introduced in the 1920s by the Japanese. The majority of Palauan locals are Christian, Christianity was introduced to the island nation in the 19th century, by the Spanish and was persisted by the Japanese and the Germans.
The Federal government operates in conjunction with the traditional government; this has been a major reason behind the continuous political issues, especially over land rights, in Palau for more than 50 years. English and Palauan are the 2 official languages of Palau and the majority of the people can speak both languages without any challenge. Notably, the Palauan dialect includes German, Spanish, English, and Japanese loanwords.
Top places to visit in Palau
Jellyfish Lake
It is a nautical lake situated on the Eil Malk isle in Palau. The lake is one of the most attractive tourist spots; you can experience the snorkeling adventure into the freshwater lake and find a hub of harmless jellyfishes swimming around. Tourists love this ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ snorkeling and swimming experience among several non-stinging jellyfishes. You must not forget to carry a water-proof mobile phone camera. Don’t worry, if you have none, as you can rent one at the spot.
Milky Way
Situated in the rock islands of Palau, the Milky Way is popular worldwide for its therapeutic assets. As per the local people of Palau, taking a bath in the limestone white mud of the Milky Way River heal many diseases of people. Nonetheless, the mud is quite soft and feels quite nice on the skin.
Ngardmau Waterfalls
Ngardmau Waterfall is one of the premier attractions of Babeldaob; it flows from the tallest peak of Palau, i.e. Mt Ngerchelchuus (217m high). The tallest waterfall across Micronesia can be accessed by hiking; you can either access the waterfall on foot along a forest route or take a monorail; both are adventurous, nonetheless.
