Nauru form of government. Nauru is an island lost to its own greed. Hydrology and Soils

Republic of Nauru- a dwarf state on the coral island of the same name in the western part of the Pacific Ocean with an area of ​​21.3 km² and a population of 14 thousand people. Independence was proclaimed in 1968.

Nauru Island is located 42 km south of the equator. The nearest island, Banaba, is located 306 km to the east and belongs to the Republic of Kiribati. Nauru is the smallest independent republic on Earth, the smallest island state, the smallest state outside Europe and the only republic in the world without an official capital.

The state is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. On September 14, 1999, the Republic of Nauru was admitted to the UN. Nauru is a member of the South Pacific Commission and the Pacific Islands Forum. Diplomatic relations between Nauru and the USSR were established on December 30, 1987. Currently, the Ambassador of Russia to the Australian Union is concurrently Ambassador to the Republic of Nauru.

Name

The origin of the word "Nauru" is not exactly known. As it is now, the Nauruans in the distant past called the island "Naoero". German professor Paul Hambruch, who visited the island in 1909-1910, gave the following explanation of the etymology of this word: according to him, "Naoero" is an abbreviation of the phrase "a-nuau-aa-ororo" (in the modern spelling "A nuaw ea arourõ") , which translates from the Nauruian language as "I go to the seashore." However, the German Catholic missionary Alois Kaiser, who lived on the island of Nauru for more than 30 years and studied the Nauru language intensively, did not recognize this interpretation, since in the local language after the word "seashore" used with the verb of movement, the index word "rodu" must follow. which translates as "down". The Nauruans themselves understand the word "seashore" as the deepest, lowest place of the island. It is used both in relation to land and sea. The very fact that Hambruch does not take into account the word "rodu" in explaining the etymology of the word "Naoero" suggests that his assumptions are unfounded.

The island has other names: English colonists until 1888 called Nauru "Pleasant Island". The Germans called him "Nawodo" or "Onawero". Later, the spelling of the word "Nauru" was changed to "Naoero" so that Europeans could pronounce the name of the country correctly.

Physical and geographical characteristics

Nauru Island lies in the western Pacific Ocean, about 42 km from the equator. The nearest island Banaba (Ocean) is located 306 km east of Nauru and belongs to the Republic of Kiribati. The area of ​​the exclusive economic coastal zone (EEZ) is 308 thousand 480 km², of which 570 km² are in the territorial waters.

Nauru Island is an uplifted coral atoll confined to the summit of a volcanic cone. The island has an oval shape, from the east the coast is concave - there is the Anibar Bay. The area of ​​the island is 21.3 km², length - 5.6 km, width - 4 km. The length of the coastline is about 19 km. The highest point - 65 m (according to various sources 61-71 m) - is located on the border of Aivo and Bouada districts. Approximately at a distance of 1 km from the coast, the depth of the ocean reaches more than 1000 m. This is due to the fact that in this place there is a steep cliff that reaches the ocean floor.

The island's surface is a narrow coastal plain 100-300 m wide, surrounding a limestone plateau that reaches 30 m in central Nauru. The plateau was previously covered with a thick layer of phosphorites (nauruite), presumably formed from seabird excrement. The island is bordered by a narrow reef (about 120-300 m wide), which is exposed at low tide and is dotted with reef peaks. 16 canals have been dug in the reef, allowing small boats to come directly to the coast of the island.

Geology

The most impressive site of Nauru is the inner region of the island, where there are huge limestone battlements and pyramids left over from phosphorite mining. The height of these structures in some places exceeds 10 meters, and the quarry itself is a huge labyrinth with many hollows and depressions and resembles a "lunar landscape". In order to facilitate the delivery of the depleted phosphorites to the port of the island, a narrow-gauge railway was specially built. In the area of ​​limestone boulders, there is practically no soil cover, so all the rainwater does not stay on the surface, but seeps through the rock.

Geographers, geomorphologists and geologists have carefully studied the relief, soil and geological structure of the island, and from the data obtained, they have reconstructed the geological history of Nauru in detail. Nauru Atoll has existed for a very long time. The fringing reef of Tertiary corals is still preserved. According to geological studies, in the Paleogene, the bottom surface of the modern lagoon of the island was 60 m below the current level of the World Ocean (that is, almost the entire island was flooded with water). During the Miocene of the Neogene epoch, the atoll was significantly raised: the bottom of the modern lagoon was 10 m higher than the current level of the World Ocean. Presumably at the same time, the island of Nauru was subjected to severe erosion, as a result of which there were changes in the karst topography. Subsequently, the central part of the island was submerged, resulting in a shallow lagoon in the center of the atoll. Sediments of various deposits rich in phosphorus accumulated in numerous depressions and hollow spaces between reef limestone. The flooding of the island lasted for a rather long period, therefore, during this time, the deposits in the lagoon underwent significant changes: the existing phosphorus compounds were enriched.

This was followed by a long period of uplifting Nauru land. The surface of the lagoon was free of water, and plants began to appear on the atoll. At present, the interior region of Nauru rises 20-30 m above the ocean surface. Only one depression, the Bouada lagoon, has survived on the island, which is completely isolated from ocean waters.

Lifeless "lunar landscape" in the area of ​​mined-out phosphorite quarries. Limestone boulders not overgrown with grass are clearly visible, having a height of up to 15 m.

In the above picture of the geological processes on the island of Nauru, there are two controversial points. First, the described process of local relief formation is questioned. In addition to the hypothesis according to which the relief was subjected to karsting, and the reef limestone dissolved in water, there is another point of view. On the coast and in the rocky shallow waters, especially in the eastern part of the island, there are a large number of preserved small stone columns that have been eroded by sea waves for a very long time. One can imagine what a strong impact from the ocean was exposed to areas of shallow water during the uplift of the island. This space was not protected, in any case, wide passages were formed in the rounded reef. Further uplift of the surface of Nauru led only to the fact that erosion continued, and rainwater smoothed out the stone columns and battlements.

Secondly, the process of phosphorite formation remains controversial. In the quarries where the so-called nauruite was mined, it can be seen that the layer of phosphorus deposits has a very complex structure: numerous fragments of various heights are typical. Consequently, the initial accumulation of phosphorites, which usually form from the dead mass of plankton, has undergone multiple changes under the influence of erosion and change in occurrence.

In the complex and long history of the island, there have undoubtedly been periods of strong typhoons, when debris was washed away. Similar disastrous changes can still be seen in many of the Pacific atolls. Under any combination of circumstances, it is obvious that a thin layer of soil was constantly washed out on Nauru, while the phosphorite nodules, through which rainwater seeped, did not disappear anywhere. Gradually, hollow landforms, primarily depressions and crevices of reef limestone boulders, were filled with gravel and debris.

There is another version of the occurrence of a phosphorite deposit on the island: in the process of weathering of rocks on the surface, depressions and sharp cones were formed, which served as an ideal place for nesting birds. Gradually, the island was covered with seabird excrement. The resulting guano gradually turned into calcium phosphate. The phosphate content in the rock of the island exceeds 90%.

Climate

The climate in Nauru is equatorial monsoon, hot and humid. The average temperature is about +27.5 ° C. In the daytime, it usually fluctuates between +26 ° C and +35 ° C, and at night - between +22 ° C and +28 ° C. Daytime temperatures can reach + 38-41 ° C. Average annual precipitation is 2060 mm. Dry years happen, and in some years up to 4500 mm of precipitation falls. Such significant fluctuations are explained by the El Niño phenomenon. The rainy season lasts from November to February, when the western monsoons (cyclone season) prevail. From March to October the winds of the north-east direction prevail. About 30 million m³ of water falls on the island annually, with almost complete absence of surface runoff.

The government of Nauru is concerned about the problem of global warming, since if the level of the World Ocean rises, the island is threatened by flooding. Therefore, the republic is trying to attract the attention of the world community, primarily through the UN.

Hydrology and Soils

There are no rivers on the island of Nauru. In the southwestern part of the island there is a small slightly brackish lake called Bouada, which is fed by rainwater. Its level is 5 meters higher than the level of the ocean surrounding Nauru.

One of the island's problems is the lack of fresh water. Against the background of an increase in the country's population, it becomes more and more acute every year. There is only one desalination plant on the island, which is powered by electricity from the only power plant in Nauru. However, due to the very high cost of electricity, the desalination plant often stops working. During rains, the population collects water in special containers and then uses it for domestic needs, for watering gardens and for livestock. During dry periods, water is brought in by ships from Australia.

In the Yaren district there is a small underground lake Mokua Vel, connected to the Mokua cave system. Near the coast, on the border of Yuev and Anabar districts, there is a cluster of small lagoons surrounded on all sides by land.

The soil layer on the coast of Nauru is very thin, only 25 centimeters, and consists of more coral debris and gravel than sand. On the central plateau, there are mainly shallow soils on top of limestone blocks, consisting of organic matter and sand or dolomite with an insignificant content of phosphates. The layer of arable land is about 10-30 cm deep and lies on top of reddish-yellow subsoils, the depth of which varies from 25 to 75 cm.

Flora and fauna

Due to the very small size of the island, its isolation from the continental land and large archipelagos, Nauru has only 60 species of native vascular plants, none of which are endemic. The massive destruction following World War II, the monocultural spread of the coconut tree and the development of phosphorites led to the destruction of vegetation in much of Nauru, which is now reclaimed on 63% of the territory.

Coconut palms, pandanuses, ficuses, laurel and other deciduous trees grow everywhere on the island. Various types of shrub formations are also widespread. The densest vegetation is confined to the coastal strip of the island, about 150-300 m wide, and to the vicinity of Lake Bouada. Hibiscus is found in the interior of Nauru, as well as cherry, almond and mango plantations.

The low-lying areas of the island are covered with dense vegetation, represented mainly by low-growing plants, while the highlands are dominated by woody plants.

The fauna of Nauru is poor. All mammals were introduced by humans: Polynesian rats, cats, dogs and pigs, as well as chickens. Reptiles are represented by lizards. The avifauna is more diverse - only 6 species (waders, terns, petrels, frigates, pigeons). Nauru is home to only one species of songbirds - the warbler (Latin Acrocephalus rehsei), which is endemic to the island. There are many insects and other invertebrates. The waters around the island are home to a variety of sharks, sea urchins, molluscs, crabs and many venomous marine animals.

Administrative divisions of Nauru

The territory of Nauru is divided into 14 administrative districts, which are combined into 8 constituencies.

Population

According to the July 2007 estimate, the population of the Republic of Nauru was 13,528, including 6,763 men and 6,765 women. The population density is 629 people. per km².

In 1968, during the proclamation of independence, the population was 3 thousand people.

The birth rate in Nauru is estimated at 24.47 per 1000 inhabitants, the mortality rate is 6.65 per 1000, and the natural population growth rate is 1.781%. Infant mortality in 2007 was estimated at 9.6 per 1000 newborns.

The share of children under 14 years old in 2007 was 36.4%, of the adult population from 15 to 64 years old - 61.6%, over 64 years old - 2%. Average duration the life of men in 2007 was 60 years, of women - 67 years.

There is no official capital or cities on the island. The seat of the president is in Meneng County, while government offices and parliament are in Yaren County. The entire population of the island lives along the coast, as well as around Lake Bouada.

Ethnic composition

About 58% of the population of Nauru is the indigenous people of the republic - the Nauruans. Of the total population of Nauru, immigrants from other islands of the Pacific Ocean (mainly Tuvaluans and Tungaruans) make up 26%, Chinese - 8%, Europeans - 8%. The share of foreign citizens in the country's population is high.

On the basis of the language, the Nauruans are usually referred to the Micronesian group of peoples, however, not only Micronesians, but also Polynesians and Melanesians took part in the formation of this ethnos.

Languages

The Nauruans speak the Micronesian language - Nauruan. Until 1968, the Republic of Nauru was jointly owned by Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand, therefore English language, along with Nauru, is state-owned.

The writing system of the Nauru language was created about 100 years ago based on the Latin alphabet and included 17 letters. Subsequently, due to the significant influence of other languages, primarily German, Tok Pisin and Kiribati, the alphabet expanded to 28 letters. A significant contribution to the study of this Micronesian language was made by the Catholic missionary Alois Kaiser, who wrote the Nauruan language textbook, and the American (originally from Germany) Protestant missionary Philip Delaporte.

Religious composition

Today, Nauru is mostly populated by Christians. The majority of Nauruans (57%) are Protestant churches, including 44% of the Nauru Congregational Church, which has chapels in Meneng, Bouada, Anabar and Nibok counties, and a main church in Ivo County. The remaining 13% are evangelicals.

About 24% of Nauru's residents are followers of the Catholic Church, which has its own chapel in Yaren County and a school in Eva County (Kaiser College). About 5% of the residents profess Buddhism and Taoism, 2% are Bahá'ís. A small group of Nauruans hold traditional beliefs that include worship of the goddess Eijebong and the island spirit of Buitani.

The government restricts the activities of certain denominations, such as the Contemporary Church of Jesus Christ (Mormons) and Jehovah's Witnesses (adherents mainly among foreigners working for the Nauru Phosphate Corporation). When a missionary of Jehovah's Witnesses from the Marshall Islands visited Nauru in 1979, he was deported.

In 1995, some of the restrictions were lifted. For example, the citizens of Nauru were given the right to preach from house to house.

Political structure

Nauru is an independent republic. The Constitution, adopted on January 29, 1968 (supplemented on May 17, 1968), establishes a republican form of government with a Westminster parliamentary system and some features of a presidential form of government.

Legislature

The highest legislative body is a unicameral parliament, consisting of 18 deputies. The procedure for electing members of parliament is determined by the Constitution of Nauru. National elections; Only a citizen of Nauru who has reached 20 years of age can become a deputy. On assuming office, members of Parliament take an oath. The term of office of members of parliament is 3 years. Before the expiration of the term, powers may be terminated in the event of the dissolution of parliament by the speaker, after consultation with the president of the country.

At their first meeting, members of parliament elect the speaker of parliament and his deputy, after which they move on to electing the country's president from among their members.

Executive power

The head of state and government of Nauru is the president. The procedure for electing the President is determined by the Constitution of Nauru. Only a Member of Parliament can be elected President. Election takes place at a sitting of parliament immediately after the parliamentary elections. A presidential candidate is considered elected if he receives a simple majority of votes. The term of office of the President is 3 years, and one person cannot hold the office of President and Member of Parliament at the same time. Before the expiration of the term, powers may be terminated in the event of resignation, persistent inability of the president for health reasons to fulfill his duties, or removal from office (impeachment). At least half of all parliamentary deputies must vote for the dismissal of the president. After the impeachment of the president, presidential elections... If the president is not elected within seven days after the parliament decides to remove the president from office, parliament is automatically dissolved.

The President appoints a Cabinet of Ministers from the parliament, consisting of no more than 6 and no less than 5 ministers (including the president). The Cabinet of Ministers is the executive body that is collectively responsible to the country's parliament. In accordance with the procedure established by law, the president declares a state of emergency, decides on pardons, appoints judges of the Supreme Court of Nauru, resident magistrates of district courts (with the consent of the chief judge).

Judicial branch

The judiciary in Nauru is completely independent. There is common law in the republic - a legal system in which a judicial precedent is recognized as a source of law. Under common law and the Adopted Laws Act 1971, a portion of Nauruian traditions, practices and institutions constitute the Nauru legal system.

The Nauru judicial system includes the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, District Courts, and Family Courts. According to the Nauru Lands Committee Ordinance, the country has a land committee that resolves land disputes and has the right to appeal to the Supreme Court of Nauru.

Article 48 of the Nauru Constitution establishes the Supreme Court of Nauru, consisting of a Chief Justice and a panel of judges. The Chief Justice, like other justices of the Supreme Court, is appointed by the President of Nauru. Only citizens of the Republic of Nauru who have worked as barristers or solicitors in the country for at least 5 years and whose age does not exceed 65 years become judges of the Supreme Court of Nauru.

The Supreme Court of Australia is the highest court in many matters.

Constituencies

The territory of the Republic of Nauru is divided into 8 constituencies. Administrative districts constituting constituency

All citizens of Nauru over 20 years of age have the right to vote. Participation in voting is compulsory: if you do not appear at the polling station on election day, a fine is imposed.

Political parties

Nauru has 3 political parties (Democratic Party, Naoero Amo and Center Party). But, as a rule, the majority of deputies of the local parliament do not belong to political parties, being independent.

Armed forces and police

There are no national armed forces in the Republic of Nauru. By informal agreement, the security of the island is carried out by Australia. Nevertheless, the republic has 3,000 draft-age Nauruans at its disposal. Of these, less than 2,000 people are fit for military service for health reasons.

Internal security is provided by a small number of units of the national police. The most common offenses in Nauru are violations of speed limits, privacy, public order and bicycle theft.

Foreign policy and international relations

The Republic of Nauru has a special status in the Commonwealth of Nations, of which it became a member in 1968 after independence. From May 1999 to January 2006, Nauru was a full member of this organization. Since September 14, 1999, it has become the 187th member of the United Nations. Also, this state is a member of the Pacific Islands Forum, the Asian Development Bank (52nd member since September 1991) and other international organizations.

The Republic of Nauru maintains diplomatic relations with many countries of the world, including Russia. Its main partners are Australia, Great Britain, India, New Zealand, USA, Thailand, Taiwan, Philippines, South Korea and Japan.

On December 15-16, 2009, the Republic of Nauru became the fourth country in the world to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, after Russia, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

Relations with the PRC and Taiwan

On July 21, 2002, the Republic of Nauru broke off diplomatic relations with Taiwan, established back in 1980, and established with the PRC. The Nauruian president, at that time Rene Harris, signed an agreement with China in Hong Kong, according to which the country recognized only one government of China - the government of the PRC. China pledged to provide $ 60 million in financial assistance to Nauru and to help pay off $ 77 million of General Electric's debt.

Taiwan's reaction was immediate: the government of the republic, not recognized by most of the countries of the world, accused China of dollar diplomacy and did not rule out the possibility of demanding from the Nauru government the payment of a debt in the amount of $ 12.1 million, which went to the construction of a hotel in Meneng.

On May 9, 2005, a meeting was held in Majuro between Nauruian President Ludwig Scotti and Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian. Soon after it, on May 14, Nauru's diplomatic relations with Taiwan were officially resumed, which complicated relations with the PRC. However, diplomatic relations with China were not interrupted, and the PRC still has its representation on the island. Taiwan provides significant assistance to Nauru in agriculture, fishing, tourism.

Relations with Australia

Nauru maintains a close relationship with Australia, which plays a key role in trade and investment. Australia is represented in the Republic of Nauru by a Consul General, Vice Consul and two representatives from the Australian Department of Immigration. The Republic of Nauru, in turn, is represented by the Consul General in Melbourne.

In August 1993, the governments of the two countries signed the Compact of Settlement, which ended trial Nauru v. Australia at the UN International Court of Justice on the rehabilitation of land used for phosphorite mining prior to Nauru's independence. As a result, Australia paid A $ 57 million to Nauru and pledged to provide an additional A $ 50 million over 20 years.

Nauru also works with Australia to combat smuggling in the region, and the Republic of Nauru is home to the Australian Immigration Center.

Relations with EU countries

In August 1995, Nauru, like Kiribati, severed diplomatic relations with France after it tested atomic weapons near the Moruroa and Fangataufa atolls in French Polynesia. However, on December 15, 1997, diplomatic relations with France were restored, after the announcement of the French government to stop testing atomic weapons in the region. The President of Nauru, Kinza Claudumar, praised France's significant aid to small nations in the central and South Pacific.

Overall, Nauru maintains friendly relations with the European Union. The countries of Europe mainly help this Pacific state in the field of energy.

Story

Nauru was inhabited by Micronesians and Polynesians about 3000 years ago. According to one of the versions, the first settlers arrived in Nauru from the Bismarck Islands and represented the Proto-Oceanic ethnos, even before its disintegration into Melanesians, Micronesians and Polynesians. Traditionally, the islanders took into account their maternal origin. Before the arrival of Europeans, the population of the island of Nauru consisted of 12 tribes, which is reflected in the twelve-pointed star on the modern flag and coat of arms of the Republic of Nauru. The first among Europeans to discover Nauru on November 8, 1798 was the English captain John Firn sailing from New Zealand to China, who gave the island the name Pleasant Island, which was actively used for 90 years. At that time, the decomposition of the primitive communal system was observed on Nauru. The main crops were coconut and pandanus. Nauruans fished on the reef, with canoes and with the help of specially trained birds - frigates (lat.Frgata minor). They also managed to acclimatize the Chanos chanos fish in Lake Buada, providing themselves with an additional source of food. Only men were involved in fishing.

In the 19th century, the first Europeans began to settle on the island. These were escaped convicts, deserters from whaling ships approaching the island, and later individual merchants. Foreigners (Europeans) brought venereal diseases to the island, they drunk the Nauruans, and incited internecine wars, which became incomparably more bloody due to the use of firearms.

Nauru Island annexed by Germany in 1888

On April 16, 1888, the island of Nauru was annexed by Germany and included in the protectorate of the Marshall Islands. The island's population was taxed. But for some time the island continued to live its secluded life. The situation changed after large deposits of phosphorites were discovered here. In 1906, the Australian Pacific Phosphate Company received permission to develop them. This left a deep imprint on the entire further history of Nauru.

On August 17, 1914, the island of Nauru was captured by Australian forces during the First World War. A small military detachment was deployed on a ship belonging to the Pacific Phosphate Company. The Australians were only slightly ahead of the Japanese, who were also ordered to occupy the phosphorite-rich island. The Australians pursued several goals. First, it was important to disrupt the German Etappendienst system by capturing a transmitting station on the island, which was part of a network of radio stations providing communication with German ships and vessels. Secondly, the government of the Australian Union was wary of Japan's actions, quite rightly suspecting the latter of expansionism. As a result of the war in 1923, Nauru received the status of a League of Nations mandate territory and was transferred under the joint control of Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand, but Australia was in charge of the administration. These countries bought all rights to the phosphorite deposits from a private company and created a joint company, British Phosphate Company, to develop and sell phosphorite deposits. Intensive development of phosphorites was carried out until the Second World War, but only meager compensation was paid to the indigenous people.

In early December 1940, German auxiliary cruisers Comet and Orion sank one Norwegian and several British merchant ships near Nauru. Some of them were waiting for the loading of phosphorites off the coast of the island. The smoke of the burning phosphorite carrier "Triadika" was visible from the coast of Nauru. The island's radio station received the alarms sent by the Komata vessel. The information received was transmitted by radiogram to the headquarters of the Australian Navy. The wreckage of sunken ships was thrown by waves on the coast of Nauru. Almost all of the captive crew members and passengers were landed by the Germans on 21 December on the island of Emirau in the Bismarck archipelago. Some of them were able to quickly reach the city of Kavienga and inform the Australians about the impending attack on the island of Nauru, but Australia had no warships in the area to prevent the raid. On December 27, 1940, the cruiser Komet returned to Nauru to bombard port facilities. Standing abeam of the island, the Comet raised the Kriegsmarine war flag and sent a radio signal ordering to clear the quays and oil storage. However, the crowd of curious people did not disperse, only a warning shot dispersed the islanders. After the shelling, only ruins remained on the site of the port. The resulting fire destroyed a large pile of phosphorites, already purchased by the Japanese.

On August 25, 1942, the island of Nauru was captured by Japan and liberated only on September 13, 1945. During the Japanese occupation, 1,200 Nauruans were deported to the Chuuk Islands (then called Truk) in the Caroline Islands, where 463 of them died. In January 1946, the surviving Nauruans returned to their homeland.

Since 1947, Nauru has become a United Nations Trust Territory, continuing to be jointly administered by the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. In the mid-1970s, up to 2 million tonnes of phosphorites were mined and exported annually, worth A $ 24 million. In 1927, the Council of Leaders, elected by the population, was created, which was endowed with only limited advisory powers. In the 1940s and 1950s, an independence movement took shape on the island. In 1951, the Council of Chiefs was transformed into the Nauru Local Government Council, an advisory body under the colonial administration. By 1966, it was possible to achieve the creation of local Legislative and Executive Councils, which ensured internal self-government in Nauru. Independence was proclaimed on January 31, 1968.

In the late 1960s - early 1970s, in the American Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, proposals were made to create a unified state on the territory of Micronesia and part of the Polynesian islands, which was to include Nauru. However, these plans were not destined to come true, and the trust territory itself split into four states - the Marshall Islands, Palau, the Northern Mariana Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia.

Current situation and economy

The Republic of Nauru, which possessed an abundance of phosphorites, was one of the richest countries in the world in terms of per capita income - US $ 13,000 - in the 1970s-1980s. The gross national product in 1986 was 20 thousand US dollars per capita. The economy of the island then largely depended on the influx of labor from outside, mainly from the neighboring island states - Kiribati and Tuvalu. At that time, the export value of phosphate rock was four times the value of imports, and the main foreign trade partners were Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the United Kingdom. Anticipating the closure soon of the only source of foreign exchange earnings, the government invested a significant part of export earnings in real estate abroad and special accumulating funds. However, when the reserves of the mineral were almost exhausted, it turned out that the state did not take enough care of the country's future.

The mining of phosphorites has had a devastating effect on the relief and vegetation cover of the plateau in the central part of the island. By 1989, on the territory occupying about 75%, active exploitation was carried out, and about 90% of the forest covering the plateau was destroyed (only 200 hectares of vegetation were preserved). No land reclamation measures were taken, and by the end of the 20th century, up to 80% of the land had turned into a wasteland resembling a "lunar landscape".

In 1989, the Republic of Nauru filed a lawsuit in an international court over Australia's actions during the administration of the island - and in particular over the severe environmental consequences of the phosphorite mining. Australia was forced to pay compensation. The depletion of the mines also led to political instability, from 1989 to 2003 the government changed 17 times in the country.

In the 1990s, the island of Nauru became an offshore zone. Several hundred banks were registered there, and in 1998 they received $ 70 billion in deposits from Russia. Under pressure from the FATF (Intergovernmental Commission to Combat Money Laundering) and under the threat of US sanctions, the Republic of Nauru was forced in 2001 to restrict, and in 2003 - to ban the activities of offshore banks and take measures against money laundering.

The Republic of Nauru was involved in the sale of passports to foreign citizens (the so-called "investor passports"), but in last years she refused this practice.

In early 2003, an acute political crisis broke out in Nauru. There were two candidates for the role of president at once: Rene Harris and Bernard Doviyogo. During the outbreak of clashes, the presidential residence burned down and the telephone connection was cut off. Communication with the outside world for several weeks was carried out only when a ship with a satellite phone entered the port.

A large part of the country's income in recent years has come from Australian aid. The housing of refugees seeking to enter Australia is an important Australian sponsored income for the country.

Agriculture

On the coastal strip of the island, bananas, pineapples, papaya, mangoes, breadfruit, coconut palms are grown, which mainly go to the local market.

Fishing

Nauru's fishing industry is still in its infancy, with only two small fishing vessels in the country, which fish mainly for the domestic market. Some of the tuna caught is exported to Australia and Japan, but incomes are still very low: in 2001, for example, only about 600 kg of tuna were exported per week. In 2000, the first fish market appeared on Nauru, which also provided part of the country's population with work.

V Lately a significant source of replenishment of the local budget was the revenues from the issuance of licenses for the right to fish in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). So, in 2000, the income amounted to about 8.5 million Australian dollars. The main partners in this area are fishing companies from China, South Korea, Taiwan, USA, South Korea and Japan.

Aquaculture is also developing on Nauru: in small artificial reservoirs on the island, hanos fish are bred, mainly going to the domestic market.

Industry

In the 1980s, the extraction of phosphorites significantly decreased (from 1.67 million tons in 1985-1986 to 162 thousand tons in 2001-2002) and in 2003 it was completely stopped. But thanks to investments from the Australian phosphate company Incitex Pivot, the mining infrastructure was restored, and in September 2006 the export of phosphates resumed. Presumably, the primary reserves of this rock will last until 2009-2010.

Food, fuel, machinery and equipment, construction materials, consumer goods are imported into the country.

Transport

The length of roads to Nauru is about 40 km. The paved roads are 29 km long, of which 17 km are located along the coast. A 12-kilometer unpaved road stretches from the area of ​​phosphorite mining to the coast. Nauru International Airport is located in the south of the island. The national Nauru airline is Aue Airline, which has only one Boeing 737 at its disposal.

Nauru has a 3.9 km railway linking the phosphorite mining area in the center of the island with a port on the southwest coast. There is no public transport and most families use their own vehicles. There is a sea connection.

Connection

The first postage stamps were issued in Nauru in 1916. They were UK stamps with the NAURU imprint.

Nauru's only radio station is owned by the government and mainly broadcasts Radio Australia and the BBC. There is also a government television station called Nauru TV on the island.

There are no regular print media in Nauru. From time to time the newspaper "Nauru Bulletin" (in English and Nauruan languages), "The Visionary" (newspaper belonging to the opposition party "Naoero Amo") is published. The Central Star News and the Nauru Chronicle are published biweekly.

Since September 1998, the Internet has appeared on Nauru, it is provided by the company CenpacNet. Subscription users are estimated to be only half of the total Internet audience in Nauru. Back in May 2001, CenpacNet launched several modern Internet cafes under its own brand. They provide users with Internet access at a cost of US $ 5 per hour. In addition, the cafe can scan documents and process digital photos.

The island's telecommunication system is well developed. Many public telephones have direct access to the international IDD system, however, due to the fact that the service is carried out through the networks of Australian companies, outgoing international calls are made through the operators. Recently, there have been regular interruptions in communications, as foreign companies serving this market refuse to provide their services without prepayment. AMPS cellular communications cover almost the entire island. Local networks are incompatible with the GSM standard, therefore, if it is necessary to maintain a constant connection, it is recommended to rent local telephones in the offices of mobile operators.

Tourism

Tourism on the island is limited due to the environmental pollution left after the development of phosphorites. Russian citizens need a visa to visit Nauru. A visa can be obtained by contacting directly the Nauru Customs and Immigration Department or the Consulate General of the Republic of Nauru in Melbourne, Australia. A short stay visitor visa is issued to persons arriving in Nauru for the purpose of tourism, visiting friends or relatives. A visitor visa holder cannot work, participate in religious or educational projects, or engage in any profit-making activity without special permission from the Nauru Customs and Immigration Department. The visa fee for a short-term visitor visa is AUD $ 100. The tax is payable on arrival in the country in cash. All passengers leaving the country are subject to an airport tax of AUD 25, payable directly at the airport. Children under 12 years of age, crew members, transit passengers and persons holding a special written permission from the Ministry of Justice of Nauru are exempted from paying the fee.

Monetary system and finance

At the beginning of the 21st century, the Nauru government faced many financial problems, primarily due to the decline in phosphorite exports. As a result, in 2002 the country was unable to pay off debts to some creditors on time. The government continues to rely on the resources of the Bank of Nauru to help address budget deficits and royalty payments.

The monetary unit of Nauru is the Australian dollar. The inflation rate on the island is quite high - 4% in 2001 (this is mainly due to the increase in the world market for oil prices and the cost of its transportation). In 2000, the budget deficit was A $ 10 million, or about 18% of the country's GDP. National debt has increased - in 2000 it amounted to AUS $ 280 million.

There is no sales tax in Nauru, but a variety of goods are subject to customs duties, the rules for which change from time to time. No taxes are levied on tobacco products and alcohol.

Shops are open from Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:00, on Saturdays from 09:00 to 13:00, but many private shops operate on their own schedule.

The culture

Very little information about the early culture of the island of Nauru has survived: due to the strong influence of the West, many customs and traditions have already been forgotten by the locals. The lack of writing among the ancient Nauruans only complicates the study of the country's cultural wealth.

The early culture of the Nauruans was based on the culture of the 12 tribes that inhabited the island. There was no common leader on Nauru, and each tribe had its own history. Traditionally, tribes were divided into clans, and each person in it belonged to certain classes: temonibe (naur. Temonibe), emo (naur. Emo), amenengame (naur. Amenengame) and engame (naur. Engame). The two poor classes were called itsio (naur. Itsio) and itiora (naur. Itiora). The main factor in determining whether a person belongs to a particular class was the origin of the mother. A privileged position was occupied by the temnibe, who were allowed to fish and who even owned certain areas of the sea.

Most of the settlements were at that time on the seashore, and only a few were located near Lake Bouada. The islanders lived in small "estates" consisting of two or three houses. Most of them united in villages. In total, there were 168 villages on Nauru, united in 14 regions, which currently form 14 administrative districts of the island.

Each family on Nauru owned a plot, and some also owned fish ponds near Lake Bouada. The land was inherited.

Sport

The national sports game in Nauru is Australian football. There is also a national football team, but it is still not recognized by either FIFA or the Oceania Football Confederation due to the lack of professional players and large stadiums in the country. The color of the players' uniforms is blue with a yellow transverse stripe. The first game of the national team with the team of another country took place on October 2, 1994. In it, the Nauru national team beat the Solomon Islands national team with a score of 2: 1. It was a huge win as the Solomon Islands were considered the clear favorite (they won the Melanesian Cup that same year). There are several sports grounds and stadiums on the island: Linkbelt Oval (located in Ivo County, however, it is significantly outdated and does not meet international standards), Meneng Stadium (built in 2006 and accommodates 3,500 people) and Denig Stadium.

Weightlifting, softball, basketball and tennis are very popular. The greatest attention from the government of the country is paid to weightlifting: it is in this discipline that Nauru has achieved the greatest success. Following the sensational victory of weightlifter Marcus Stephen at the 1990 Commonwealth Games, the Nauru National Olympic Committee was established in Nauru. In 1992, Marcus became the first Nauruian to take part in the Olympic Games held in Barcelona. Nauru was officially admitted to the Olympic movement in 1996. The first official athletes from Nauru were Marcus Steven, Gerard Garabwan and Quincy Detenamo.

Health care

As a result, effective state program to solve health problems, pursuing as the main goals the improvement of water supply to the population and the implementation of constant sanitary and preventive measures, in recent years outbreaks of infectious diseases on the island have been avoided. However, non-contagious diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and cancer, as well as respiratory diseases, have become the main causes of death in people. The population of Nauru is severely obese. In 2003, Nauru's adult prevalence of diabetes (30.2%) was the highest in the world.

One of the main problems in Nauru health care is the problem of personnel, so the government of the country is trying to attract as many specialists as possible in this area. Medical care on the island is free. In July 1999, the Nauru General Hospital and the National Phosphate Corporation Hospital were merged into the Republic of Nauru Hospital, with only five doctors. People with serious illnesses are mainly sent to Australia for treatment.

In 1995-1996, health spending amounted to A $ 8.9 million, or 8.9% of the country's total budget. Most of the medical professionals are expatriates.

Education

Education in Nauru is compulsory for children from 6 to 15 years old (grades 1-10). The educational system also includes 2 stages for young children: preschool (English Pre-school) and preparatory stage (English Preparatory School).

Primary education is provided during the first 6 years of schooling, that is, for children aged 6 to 11. The first two years of study take place at Yaren County Primary School, the third and fourth at Aiwo Primary School, and from the fifth at Nauru College. At the end of primary school, exams are taken to obtain a Certificate of primary education(English Nauru Primary Certificate).

The next step is secondary school (grades 7-10 are compulsory and grades 11-12 are optional). After the 10th grade, exams are taken to obtain a Certificate of Secondary Education (English Nauru Junior Certificate). In the case of continuing education at the end of grade 12, exams are taken to obtain a Certificate of Secondary full education(English Pacific Senior School Certificate).

The inhabitants of the island receive higher education abroad, mainly in Australia. Nauru also has a branch of the University of the South Pacific that offers distance learning courses.

Education in Nauru is free.

State of Nauru, whose area is 21 sq. km, located on the island of the same name in the Pacific Ocean slightly south of the equator. Officially, there is no capital in the country; Yaren serves as the administrative center. The closest neighbor of Nauru is Kiribati and is located at a distance of more than 300 km from it. Command Ridge is a mountain range that is the highest point in Nauru.

Population of Nauru

The country is home to 12 thousand people, the majority are Nauruans - 58%, Polynesians - 26%, Chinese - 8%, Europeans - 8%.

Nature of Nauru

Most of the island's territory is covered with hard-leaved forests and shrubs. There are no mammals in Nauru, there are many birds and insects.

Climatic conditions

The island is ruled by an equatorial, monsoon climate. The average annual temperature is + 30… 34 ° C. Heavy rains begin in November and continue until the end of February.

Language

Officially, the country has two languages ​​- local Nauruan and English.

Kitchen

The food shortage in Nauru has meant that the local cuisine is not very diverse. Some root vegetables and grains, coconuts and seafood are eaten. Unlike other countries in Oceania, Nauru has a popular fast food system.

Religion

The majority of the believers in Nauru are Protestants - 70%, Catholics - 30%.

Holidays

On January 31, Nauru celebrates Independence Day, May 17 - Constitution Day. On October 26, a very important date for the state is celebrated in the country - Angam Day (Day of Glee), to commemorate the day when the population reached 1500 people. This number was necessary so that the inhabitants of the country could be considered a nation with the right to independent existence. On October 26, 1932, 1,500 residents were born, and this day was declared a public holiday.

Currency of Nauru

The country's monetary unit is the Australian dollar (code AUD).

Time

Nauru is 8 hours ahead of Moscow in time.

The main resorts of Nauru

Divers find Nauru's territorial waters ideal for diving, as shipwrecks and aircraft lie at varying depths and the coastal reefs are rich in quirky inhabitants. Especially popular are the Aivo harbor and Kaiser College area. Fans of sport fishing also go to Nauru Island, especially since local fishermen are very sociable and gladly discover the secrets of the craft. For beach lovers, Anibar Bay is a great choice, as its coral beaches are surrounded by palm thickets. The island has restaurants, nightclubs, casinos, of which there are more than in any other country in Oceania.

Nauru landmarks

The state of Nauru is a tourist attraction in itself: it is the smallest independent republic, the only country without a capital, the smallest island power. In Yaren, in the National Tourism Office, unique examples of folk crafts, ancient clothes, stone tools have been preserved. In the national museum, you can see the household items of the ancient inhabitants of the island and other archaeological artifacts.

The natural attraction of the country is the caves with the underground lake Mokwa Vell located not far from Jarena.

The island of Nauru was most likely colonized by the Polynesians and Micronesians about 3000 years ago. The first settlers on the island of Nauru were the inhabitants of the Bismarck Islands.

For Europeans, the island of Nauru was discovered on November 8, 1798 by British captain John Firn during his voyage to China from New Zealand. The discoverer then gave the island the name "Pleasant" ( English version- Pleasant Island), which was used on English-language maps for the next century.

At the time of the discovery of the island by Europeans, the aboriginal population of Nauru lived in fact under a primitive communal system, engaged in fishing and cultivation of coconut palms and pandanus.

In the middle of the 19th century, the first Europeans appeared on Nauru, who brought to the island both incurable diseases and internecine conflicts, which significantly reduced the number of the aboriginal population.

On April 16, 1888, Germany announced the annexation of the island of Nauru and its inclusion in the protectorate of the Marshall Islands, which was then under the control of the Jaluit Company.

At the beginning of the 20th century, large deposits of phosphorites were discovered on Nauru. In 1906, the Australian Pacific Phosphate Company began developing these resources, having received prior permission from the German authorities.

After the outbreak of World War I in Europe, on August 17, 1914, Australian forces captured the island of Nauru, ahead of the Japanese.

Following the results of the First World War in 1923, the League of Nations mandate gave the island of Nauru under the joint control of Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain, but the administration still remained with Australia. The countries mandated by Nauru established the British Phosphate Company, a joint corporation that mined and traded phosphorites until the outbreak of World War II.

In early December 1940, two German auxiliary cruisers "Orion" and "Komet", passing with the help of Soviet icebreakers along the Northern Sea Route, attacked allied merchant ships near the island of Nauru, most of which were sunk. On December 27, 1940, the cruiser Komet, which returned to Nauru, destroyed the port facilities of the island and the piles of mined phosphorites.

On August 25, 1942, Japan captures Nauru, while the island was liberated only on September 13, 1945 after the Japanese surrender in World War II. During the occupation of the island by Japan, more than 1200 local residents were taken to the Chuuk Islands (at that time - Truk), where many of them died, and the rest returned to their homeland only at the beginning of 1946.

After the end of World War II, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom continued to rule Nauru, while continuing to mine phosphate rock.

In the early 50s of the last century, a movement for the national independence of the island was formed on the island.

Currently, the Republic of Nauru is a developing state that builds its economy on the extraction of phosphorites and tourism.

Origin and geography of the island

In origin, Nauru is a coral island. Many experts in a number of printed sources refer to Nauru as an uplifted atoll. According to scientists, the formation of the island began in the Pliocene, when corals formed a reef on the skeleton of the eroded cone of the volcano and began to initially form the outlines of the island. Nauru originally had an internal lagoon, traces of which can be seen in the central part of the island, which was eventually filled with coral sand and silt.

The island of Nauru has an almost regular round shape, somewhat elongated from the southwest to the northeast, with a length of 6 and a width of 4 kilometers. The coastline is quite straight and forms in its length only one small bay of Anibar on the eastern side of the island. The coastline is approximately 18 kilometers long. The relief of the island consists of a narrow coastal plain with a width of about 150-300 meters, which surrounds a limestone plateau, the height of which reaches 30 meters closer to the central part. Previously, the plateau was covered with a thick layer of phosphorites. The highest point of the island of Nauru is an unnamed hill 65 meters high, located on the border of Bouada and Ayvo districts. In the central part of the island there is a small dry lake Bouada. The island is bordered by a narrow coral reef, the width of which ranges from 120 to 300 meters. During low tide, coral reefs rise above the surface of the water with their peaks. Currently, 16 canals have been dug in the reef, which allow small ships to approach closer to the coast of the island. At a distance of about 1 kilometer from the coast, the depth of the ocean exceeds 1000 meters due to a sharp drop.

Climate

Experts classify the climate on the island of Nauru as monsoon equatorial, which means that it is almost always hot and humid here. Considering the proximity of the equator, there are no temperature fluctuations depending on the season. The average annual temperature is approximately +28 ° C, with daytime temperatures from +27 ° C to +35 ° C and at night - from +22 ° C to +28 ° C. Sometimes daytime indicators on the island reach + 39-41 ° C, then it becomes generally uncomfortable on the island, especially for visiting tourists. Rainfall on Nauru falls in the form of torrential tropical rains, and their average annual amount is about 2000-2500 millimeters. The island's rainy season is from early November to mid-February, when the western monsoons blow. In the period from March to the end of October, winds blowing from the northeast prevail here. Sometimes tropical cyclones hit Nauru, which from time to time bring, in addition to showers, also destructive winds.

Population

At the moment, more than 10 thousand inhabitants live on the island of Nauru. Ethnically, almost all of them are considered Nauruans (Naurians), the percentage of Fijians, Europeans, Chinese and Tunguruans is relatively small. The official languages ​​on the island are English and Nauruan, which belongs to the Micronesian language group.

Administratively, the island of Nauru is divided into 14 districts. But there are no cities on the island, just as there is no official capital of the Republic of Nauru.

The monetary unit in circulation on the island of Nauru is the Australian dollar (AUD, code 36), consisting of 100 cents.

Flora and fauna

Due to the remoteness of Nauru from the continents, as well as the uncontrolled extraction of phosphorites, the flora and fauna of the island are quite poor. Only 60 species of vascular herbaceous, shrubby and woody plants grow here, among which there are no emdemic species. Coconut palms, ficuses, pandanuses, laurel trees and other tree species grow almost everywhere on the island. The highest density of vegetation is observed closer to the coastal areas in a strip of about 200-300 meters from the coast and near Lake Bouada. In the central regions of Nauru, hibiscus, cherry, almond and mango trees are common.

The fauna of Nauru is even poorer than the flora. All types of mammals that now live on the island were introduced earlier by humans, and these are cats, dogs, pigs and rats. Lizards are common among reptiles in Nauru. There are only six species of birds nesting on the island (terns, waders, frigates, petrels, pigeons, as well as the island's emdemic warblers (Acrocephalus rehsei)).

There are several shark species in the coastal waters of the island, sea ​​urchins, molluscs, crabs, as well as a large number of poisonous marine animals.

Tourism

You can arrive to the island of Nauru both by sea and by air. An international airport has been operating on the island off the coast in Yaren County since 1982, receiving flights from the Solomon and Marshall Islands, Australia and New Zealand, as well as from the Republic of Kiribati. By sea, the island can be reached mainly by small yachts and ships due to the danger of the coral reefs that surround the island. Tourists arriving in Nauru are accommodated either in the only Menen Hotel on the island, or in numerous private bungalows located along the coast. Tourists go to Nauru primarily for the beach holiday. The tourist infrastructure is almost completely absent here, which attracts extreme people here. Most of the beaches on the island are located in its southern and southwestern parts. It offers tourists here two relatively large beaches with stunning white and pink coral sands, washed by clear azure coastal ocean water.

	Official name:	Republic of Nauru
	Capital:	There is no official capital or cities on the island. The seat of government is in Meneng County, while government offices and parliament are in Yaren County.
	The area of ​​the land:	21.2 sq. km
	Total population:	13 528 people
	Population composition:	58% are Nauru (Naurians or Naurians), 26% are Melanesians, 8% are Chinese, 8% are Europeans.
	Official language:	Nauru and English.
	Religion:	60% are Protestants, 38% are Catholics.
	Internet domain:	.nr
	Mains voltage:	~ 220 V, 50 Hz
	Country dialing code:	+674
	Country barcode:

Climate

Equatorial monsoon, very hot and humid.

The island of Nauru lies almost at the equator, so the average monthly temperatures - from +28 C to +34 C vary little throughout the year. At the same time, daytime heat, due to the absence of vegetation and strong heating of the rocky base from the scorching rays of the sun, can reach + 38-41 C, while at night it is only slightly cooler. Only in the period from March to October, when the northeastern trade winds blow, the air temperature drops by 3-4 C, but only along the coast - the Central Plateau region warms up as significantly as at any other time of the year.

There is about 2500 mm of precipitation per year. The cyclone season lasts from November to February, when the weather becomes extremely humid and the island literally "drowns in the rain", but during the rest of the year due to the lack of vegetation and soil conditions, real droughts are common.

Geography

Nauru Island lies in the western Pacific Ocean, about 42 km from the equator.
The nearest island Banaba (Ocean) is located 306 km east of Nauru and belongs to the Republic of Kiribati. The area of ​​the exclusive economic coastal zone (EEZ) is 308 thousand 480 km?, Of which 570 km? falls on the territorial waters.

Nauru Island is an uplifted coral atoll confined to the summit of a volcanic cone. The island has an oval shape, from the east the coast is concave - there is the Anibar Bay. Length - 5.6 km, width - 4 km. The length of the coastline is about 19 km. The highest point - 65 m (according to various sources 61-71 m) - is located on the border of Aivo and Bouada districts. Approximately at a distance of 1 km from the coast, the depth of the ocean reaches more than 1000 m. This is due to the fact that in this place there is a steep cliff that reaches the ocean floor.

The island's surface is a narrow coastal plain 100-300 m wide, surrounding a limestone plateau that reaches 30 m in central Nauru. The plateau was previously covered with a thick layer of phosphorites, presumably formed from seabird excrement. The island is bordered by a narrow reef (about 120-300 m wide), which is exposed at low tide and is dotted with reef peaks. 16 canals have been dug in the reef, allowing small boats to come directly to the coast of the island.

Flora and fauna

Vegetable world. There are 60 species of plants recorded on the island, but none of them is a natural inhabitant of this land - almost all of them were introduced by humans to one degree or another. Bananas, pineapples and vegetables are grown on the fertile lands around Bouada Lagoon, and small pockets of secondary vegetation are covered with coral outliers. The soils are porous, sandy loam, on which coconut palms, pandanuses, ficuses, laurel (calophyllum) and other deciduous trees grow. Various types of shrub formations are also widespread. The most dense vegetation is confined to the coastal strip and the environs of the lake. Bouada. Recultivated quarry dumps are planted with bushes.

The fauna is also extremely scarce - only about 20 species of birds can be attributed to the natural inhabitants of the island, including the most famous local inhabitant - the reed nightingale, or the canary of Nauru, as well as about a hundred species of insects and earth crabs common to the islands of the region. All other animals (Polynesian rat, pigs, dogs, etc.) were brought here by humans. Of mammals, rats are found, and of reptiles, lizards. The avifauna is more diverse (waders, terns, petrels, frigates, pigeons, etc.). Lots of insects.

Dangerous plants and animals

The waters around the islands are home to several species of sharks and many poisonous sea creatures (primarily sea snakes, some types of fish and coral). Some species of marine life contain poisonous toxins in their meat, so it is always advisable to consult with local residents about the safety of a particular product. When swimming, it is better to use wetsuits, and to enter the water on unequipped coast, wear strong shoes that protect your feet from the needles of sea animals and the sharp edges of coral debris.

sights

Very little is known about the history of human settlement on the island of Nauru. Only one thing is reliably clear - about three thousand years ago this piece of land lost in the ocean began to be mastered by the famous "peoples of the sea" - the ancestors of the modern Polynesians and Micronesians, who made throws from island to island on their fragile canoes and thus inhabited the Great Ocean. Called Naoero by the locals, the island was discovered to Europeans by the British whaler John Firn, who accidentally stumbled upon an unknown land in 1798. From him the island received its first European name - Pleasant Island. And for another half a century, the only Europeans visiting these waters were only whalers, slave traders, lumberjacks and pirates.

In 1888, Nauru, along with other islands in the region, was annexed by Germany, becoming part of the German Marshall Islands. After the defeat of Germany during the First World War, the island became part of the British Mandatory Territories and was transferred under the control of Australia. In 1942, the Japanese invaded the island, resettling approximately half of the population (1200 people) to Truk Island (Caroline Islands) for forced labor, with almost 500 of these settlers killed in the camps. After World War II, Nauru remained under the control of the Australian administration as a Trust Territory of the United Nations, and only in 1968 the country gained full independence, having entered the British Commonwealth of Nations with special rights.

Throughout the 20th century, European (primarily British, and then local) companies used the island's territory only for the extraction of phosphates, which were so necessary for the production of mineral fertilizers. As a result, by the beginning of the new millennium, most of Nauru's territory had turned into a "lunar landscape" dug up by dozens of mines and quarries, and the entire population was concentrated in a narrow strip of coastal lowland. As a result, the country can offer the traveler quite a few attractions - a few beaches on secluded coral reefs and atolls of the surrounding waters, as well as the coral reefs themselves with their wrecks and aircraft from the Second World War, found in abundance on the local seabed. Clean water and excellent conditions for sport fishing attract fans of active recreation here.

Yaren

The small and rather boring town of Yaren is located in the area of ​​the same name in the south of the island. Nominally bearing the status of the capital of the island, it is a rather haphazardly scattered settlement, not much like a city in general, only containing a part of the administrative organizations, as well as the international airport and air terminal of Nauru. Its main attractions usually include the complex of the House of Parliament, administration offices and police stations, concentrated on a narrow strip between the runway of the airfield and the coastline. On the other side of the airfield strip, in the wall of coastal cliffs, there is the entrance to the main local natural attraction - the caves and the small underground lake Mokwa Vell. You can also see two small museums and the remains of Japanese defensive positions during the Second World War, whose numerous bunkers and caponiers, left untouched after the end of the war, still contain some of the weapons of that time.

The National Tourism Office complex houses the Arts and Crafts Center, which houses most of the literally miraculously preserved samples of local handicrafts, stone tools of the indigenous people of the island, fishing gear and clothing, primarily "Ingurig" - traditional skirts made of fibers. derived from hibiscus leaves. In addition, the National Museum houses an extensive collection of photographs from the pre-war and post-war years, as well as an exhibition of utensils and other historical artifacts.

Aivo

To the northwest begins the Aivo (Aiue) region - the second metropolitan area, often bearing the title of "the unofficial capital of Nauru", although in a number of indicators it is much more similar to the capital city than Yaren. A higher level of development of this settlement was provided by the sea berths and the canal located in this area (the ring of reefs makes it extremely difficult for ocean-going ships to approach the coast of the island), so it is not surprising that it is here that the entire industrial infrastructure of Nauru is concentrated. Here you can see the only Ayue Boulevard on the island, New Port, Chinatown, Nauru Island Council Chambers (NIC), Nauru Phosphate Corporation (NPC) office, O dn-Aiwo Hotel, one of two hotels on the island) and a power plant.

Anibare

In the eastern part of the island there is the Anibare region, which surrounds the bay of the same name. The gentle arc of Anibare Bay (Anibore) includes the best beach in Nauru with excellent conditions for a passive holiday by the sea. Swimming here cannot be called absolutely serene - the ocean currents near the shores of the bay are strong enough and can be dangerous with their strength and unpredictability. However, on the coast and around it, Anibare does not differ from any resort area in Oceania, there is even a very good hotel "Menen" (Menen Hotel, the most expensive on the island, lies partially in the Menen area - hence the name), and the nearby reef, especially two the channel in it is quite suitable for diving and snorkeling - there are even several wrecks from the period of the Second World War.

Menen

Lying in the very southeast of the island, the Menen (Meneng) district contains on its territory a part of the complex of the hotel of the same name, a communication station, a place of worship for the islanders - the Linkbelt Oval stadium and the State Residence complex burned down during the 2001 riots (the residence of the President of the country), once considered the most beautiful building on the island.

Bouada

The area of ​​Bouada lies in the southwestern part of the island, around the lagoon of the same name, which is a rudiment of the central lagoon common to the coral islands of the region. Once vast and surrounded by a ring of coral reefs, over millions of years it was raised by tectonic processes to a height of 24 meters above sea level, its waters were desalinated, and the reefs turned into phosphate rocks of the Topside Highlands. Therefore, the land around the lagoon is very fertile and still serves as the only agricultural area of ​​Nauru, and the green ring of palm groves and other vegetation is one of the few places on the island where you can hide from the scorching sun in the shade of trees. However, the water in the lagoon is rather dirty and completely unsuitable for swimming.

Topside

The central plateau of Nauru, or Topside, was once a small tropical paradise covered with dense forest and vast tracts of bush. The deposits of phosphates hidden under a thin layer of soil have become a real tragedy for this corner of the planet - over a century of incessant mining, the plateau was literally torn off the face of the Earth, leaving behind only the outer ring of cliffs. And its surface has turned into a red-hot wasteland of sun-dried white rocks, bizarre turrets of petrified coral and ugly deep pits and quarries. This is a prime example of how the mining industry has ravaged both Nauru's ecology and culture, bringing a phantom of easy wealth and realities of disastrous consequences to the life of the once pastoral island. To get to the plateau, it is necessary to rent a taxi, since this place is usually covered with a dusty cloud rising from numerous quarries, which in themselves can be quite dangerous - you can simply fall into their abyss-like depths without knowing the area.

Over the next few years, the Nauru government intends to reduce the destructive effect of mining on the plateau, especially since there are almost no phosphates left here. And if they succeed, and the lunar landscape is returned to its original state, it will be a real feat, which is eagerly awaited by both the inhabitants of Nauru and tourists alike. However, the chances of this are few - in the local climate, vegetation will take several decades to simply gain a foothold on the barren slopes cut by excavator buckets, and the full restoration of the ecosystem will take centuries, which will most likely become an unbearable burden for the island's poor economy.

The Command Ridge is the highest point in Nauru. From here, from the highest point, you can look around the entire island at a glance, as well as inspect the Japanese defensive positions, which have preserved two large coastal defense guns, which once fired forty-kilogram shells, a communications bunker and a whole network of trenches and galleries.

Banks and currency

Branches of the Bank of Nauru are usually open from Monday to Thursday, from 09.00 to 15.00, on Fridays from 09.00 to 16.30.

You can exchange currency at banks or at any of the hotels on the island.

American Express, Diners Club and Visa credit cards are accepted almost everywhere, but there are no ATM machines on the island. Travel checks can be cashed at banks and hotels. Despite the widespread use of non-cash means of payment, cash is clearly preferred in many places.

Australian dollar (AUD, A $) equal to 100 cents. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 dollars, as well as coins of 1 and 2 dollars, 50, 20, 10 and 5 cents.

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One of the richest countries in the world is located in the Pacific Ocean, north and east of Australia and not far from the equator. Fabulously rich, but only in the past, because the heyday of this country fell on the 60-80s of the last century, when per capita income this distant island overtook the leading economies of the world.

This is the island-state of Nauru.

Sometimes referred to as the "Eaten Island", this state is very instructive and serves as an example of how greed, stupidity and greed can destroy any prosperous community.

The history of the island of Nauru is not much different from the stories of other oceanic islands. Until the beginning of the 20th century, nothing boded in Nauru of any dramatic changes in the life of people - people lived in the old fashioned way, little by little fishing and growing pineapples, bananas, coconut palms, mangoes, papaya, breadfruit. The island itself is quite small, about 4 by 6 kilometers in size.

The population was a rather motley company - in the 19th century, the descendants of the Polynesians and Micronesians who inhabited the ocean islands from ancient times mixed with the descendants of fugitive Australian convicts and adventurers.

The turning point in the history of the state of Nauru was the discovery on the island of a mineral reserve, namely phosphorites. (Phosphorites are very widely used for the production of phosphate fertilizers, in the chemical industry and in the production of washing powders; they were discovered on our island in 1906). After 1906, life on the island was in full swing. Judge for yourself: Nauru was annexed by the Germans, a little later captured by the Australians, who were expelled from the island by the Japanese at the beginning of the Second World War. After the war, the island was jointly ruled by Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand.

And all these states tried to extract minerals from the bowels of the island. It got to the point that about 80% of the island's territory was in one way or another involved in the extraction of phosphates. I must say that the locals were not very opposed to this process. They were not particularly worried about the constantly deteriorating environmental situation - after all, residents were paid well for this.

In the 70s, per capita income exceeded 34 thousand dollars, the inhabitants of the island could afford to fly by plane to Australia to the dentist and change their car once a year or two. A large airport and even a railway were built on the island. Nobody thought about education or any other ways of earning money - why? The smartest little by little put money aside and bought up real estate in developed countries, and the majority faithfully believed the government, which said that "everything will be fine, we have created special funds and in a few years we will be able to live on interest from the invested funds."

Sooner or later, any fairy tale ends, even a happy one. The phosphorites ran out, the funds were empty, and several skyscrapers in Australia, in which the Naurian offices were located, had to be sold for debts. More than half of the island is occupied by quarries and the state cannot earn money from tourists. And people are used to living on a grand scale and demanding the impossible from the government, whence there is constant instability on the island, which, of course, does not add to Nauru's attractiveness in the eyes of investors. Several years ago, as a result of an acute political confrontation between the supporters of the two presidential candidates, the presidential residence and communications center burned down. As a result of this incident, communication with the outside world was lost on the island for a couple of months. Most of the territory of the island-state now consists of quarries and looks like this:

The problems of the inhabitants of the island at the moment are somewhat reminiscent of the problems of our countries - the level of alcoholism is high and growing further, and so the small number of educated young people every year becomes less and less, and the level of corruption is off the charts. Economically prosperous Taiwan once allocated about $ 100 million to Nauru for the construction of urban infrastructure of several hundred buildings, but only a few one-story houses were built with these funds.

The resource-based economy has its pros and cons, and the main disadvantage is that sooner or later raw materials come to an end, but problems remain.