Any Travels

One of the smallest countries in the woirld, Nauru consists of one atoll with a surrounding reef which is exposed at low tide, just 12 miles in circumference and just over 8 square miles. Most of the 10,000 population live on the narrow coastal belt.

In 1947 the island was placed under United Nations Trusteeship and Australia resumed administration on behalf of the three partner governments: Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain. Nauru became an independent republic on 31 January 1968.

Nauru existed as an independent island society until it was annexed by Germany in 1888 as part of the Marshall Islands Protectorate. In 1900 a British company discovered phosphate on the island and negotiated with Germany for mining rights. In November 1914 Nauru was seized by Australian troops and remained in British control until 1921. At the end of the war, a League of Nations mandate was granted to Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain. The three countries provided for an Administration and set up the British Phosphate Commissioners (BPC) to run the phosphate industry.

Culture:

When the Germans annexed the place in 1888, they had no time for the islanders' dancing and were quick to ban it. Many indigenous cultural practices have followed suit, and one form of culture is now beamed into homes from Television New Zealand through TV aerials or satellite dishes, of which there are plenty. Australian Rules football has almost the status of a religion, and some children are even named after the game's greats. Nauruan islanders are among the wealthiest in the world per head of population, and cars, refrigerators and other mod-cons are commonplace.

English and Nauruan, a unique Pacific language with recognisable elements of Melanesian, Polynesian and Micronesian, are spoken. English is the official language used for government and commerce. The clan was the traditional building block of Nauruan life, and today's electoral boundaries roughly represent traditional clan areas.

Junk food is widespread, and diseases of affluence - diabetes, obesity and heart disease - are common. Most of the country's food has to be imported, so don't go expecting traditional Pacific feasts. Some pigs and chickens are raised locally, and some tropical fruit and vegetables are grown, especially around Buada Lagoon, but the island is overwhelmingly dependent on imports for its food and water.

The three festivals islanders celebrate are Independence Day (31 January), Constitution Day (17 May) and Angam Day (26 October). Angam means 'homecoming', and this day commemorates the various times in Nauru's history when the size of the Nauruan population returned to 1500, thought to be the minimum number necessary for survival. Nauruans also celebrate Christmas and Easter.