Formerly known as 'Pleasant Island', Nauru is a tiny island nation located in the Micronesian South Pacific. The island was originally occupied by Micronesian and Polynesian people. It was in the late 19th century that Nauru was annexed and designated as a colony by Germany and became an authorized territory administered by Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom following World War I. During World War II, it was occupied by Japan and finally achieved independence in 1968. Explore to find some interesting and fun facts about Nauru.
Interesting & Fun Facts about Nauru
- Nauru is officially named as the Republic of Nauru.
- Yaren is the de facto capital of Nauru.
- British Captain John Fearn, a whale hunter, was the first Westerner to visit the island in 1798 and named it Pleasant Island.
- The nearest neighbor is Banaba Island in the Republic of Kiribati, 300 km due east.
- The currency, which they follow, is Australian Dollar.
- Nauruan is the official language of the island although English is also widely spoken.
- Nauru achieved its independence in 1968 and joined the UN in 1999 as the world's smallest independent republic.
- Nauru is the world's smallest island nation, covering just 21 km².
- It is the only republican state in the world without an official capital.
- Nauru follows a parliamentary system of government.
- It is the least populous member of the United Nations.
- Nauru was once one of three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean, the others being Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Makatea in French Polynesia.
- Phosphate was discovered on the island in 1900 by prospector Albert Ellis.
- The main religion practiced on the island is Christianity. For about two third Christians are Protestant and one-third Roman Catholic. There is also a considerable Bahá'í and Buddhist population on the island.
- Nauru has close diplomatic ties with Australia, People's Republic of China and Taiwan.
- Nauru has high literacy rates of about 96%. Education for children from the age of six to fifteen is compulsory.
- A traditional activity enjoyed at Nauru is catching noddy birds,. when they return from foraging at sea.
