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Population: 20,796 Dialing Code: +680 Languages: Palauan 64.7% official in all islands except Sonsoral (Sonsoralese and English are official), Tobi (Tobi and English are official), and Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, and English are official), Filipino 13.5%, English 9.4%, Chinese 5.7%, Carolinian 1.5%, Japan Religions: Roman Catholic 41.6%, Protestant 23.3%, Modekngei 8.8% (indigenous to Palau), Seventh-Day Adventist 5.3%, Jehovah's Witness 0.9%, Latter-Day Saints 0.6%, other 3.1%, unspecified or none 16.4% (2000 census) Internet TLD: .pw Located: Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines Area: 458 sq km Literacy: 92% Comparative Size: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC Nationality Noun: Palauan(s) Nationality Adjective: Palauan |
A Pacific island nation east of the Philippines and south of Tokyo, Palau is among the planet's best destinations for diving and snorkeling because of its blue holes, coral reefs, wartime ruins, and evolutionary wonders such as one-ton giant clams and a lake packed with 21 million stingless jellyfish.
One of the world's youngest and smallest sovereign states, Palau came from "Pelew," a term used by English Captain Henry Wilson who detected the country in 1783. In the European and Australian tongue, Palau is better known as "The Black Islands" after the nation's ancient Melanesian-Malay tribes pictured with their tattoos and body piercings. In official Palauan language, Palau is pronounced "Belau," but in the second dialect, English, Palau stands for "Palau's Archipelago: Lovely and Unique."
World War annals and prehistory awaken in front of us in the museums and battlefields of Paleliu and of Koror, the former capital and largest city. The commercial hub Koror has bestsellers such as the storyboards, or traditional woodcarvings depicting Palauan myths and legends. West of Koror is the dive site Floating Garden Islands, while on the south is the more popular southern islets of Rock Islands, a snorkeling and kayaking haven because of the Jellyfish Lake, a scientific mystery for its millions of jellyfish that evolved without stingers.
A tropical climate virtually undisturbed by typhoons has become an idyllic setting for diving the coral-infested waters of Kayangel, Ngeruangel, German Channel, Ulong Channel and Blue Holes. Blue Corner is notorious for its sharks and high current, while Anguar and the Southwest Islands are the most isolated escapes for their remoteness, tranquil beaches and protective reefs.
On land, exotic birds paint the sky, crocodiles hide in between mangroves, and orchids grow in backyards. The sociable Palauans greet their guests arriving via airplane or yacht from the Philippines, Australia or Guam with Alii (Hello). In Meriil, the "Dancing Island," visitors are entertained with hula-like dances and karaoke-bar nightlife. Like the country's US Dollar currency, dining is American-style, although there are also delicacies that cater to the daring palate like the fruit bat pie, reminiscent of a challenge in the hit TV series, Survivor: Palau and Survivor: Micronesia, which were both shot in Palau.