Airai (State of Airai)
Airai, located on the southern coast of Babeldaob island, is the second-most populous state of Palau. It contains the country's chief airport, Roman Tmetuchl International Airport, and is connected by the Koror–Babeldaob Bridge to nearby Koror Island.
The state has an area of 44 km2 (17 mi2), and a total population of 2,455 Census, the second largest in the country.
Airai, located in the southeast corner of Babeldaob, includes a large area in the interior, a thick fringe of mangroves, and several limestone rock islands extending out of the mangroves into the lagoon. At the southeast corner is the large and shallow Airai Bay. The interior and southeast part of the state is drained by the Ngerikiil River, with its tributaries including the Kmekumer and Chedeng. This drainage is one of the largest in Palau. The Ngerimel River, which supplies water for Airai and Koror from a reservoir, occupies a small drainage on the west side of Rois Tungd in the south central part of the state. The drainages along the east and west coast are generally short and steep. A line of low hills parallels the coast. Inland from these hills are rolling hills which rise to the Rael Kedam, the central ridge system on Babeldaob. The Rael Kedam begins at Ngetkib Village and extends north through Rois Tungd and Rois Ngesibang to the boundary with Aimeliik. From here, the Rael Kedam extends north through Rois Ngetechum to the corner of Aimeliik, Ngatpang and Airai, and then extends on to Rois Ormuul and the boundary with Ngchesar. From here, the northern boundary of Airai extends southeast across Rois Beng to the east coast. The inland hills are predominantly covered by forest, while much of the coastal ridge is covered by savanna and short, scrubby vegetation.
The modern villages of Airai include Ngetkib, Ngeruluobel, Ngerusar, Yelch, Airai, and Oikull. In addition, several homes and farms are located along the coastal road in the Ocholochol area and between Ngerusar and Yelch in Ngersung and Ngerullak. Yelch is a modern settlement surrounding the Airai Elementary School and Airai Community Center buildings. With the exception of Koror, Airai is the most densely populated state in Palau. Most of the population is located on the low, natural bench along the coast. The soil here is rich and supports a variety of vegetation and other resources.
Several different kinds of land use in Airai include private gardens, commercial gardens, commercial business, and municipal enterprises. Commercial business range in size from small stores to the large scale quarry operation near Ngeruluobel. Private gardens surround residences and villages, and interspersed with these are stands of agroforest which include coconut, betelnut, breadfruit, almond trees, and banana plants. Also, located along drainages are taro swamp gardens. According to informants, except for occasional forays to hunt pigeon or harvest special plants, there is little active use of most of the interior of Airai.
Airai is most notable for its bai (men's meeting house), the oldest one in existence, dating back 200 years. The turbulent rains of Palau did not treat ancient Palauan architecture kindly. Airai is more inland/mountainous-jungle and therefore more of a bedroom community of Koror.
The state has an area of 44 km2 (17 mi2), and a total population of 2,455 Census, the second largest in the country.
Airai, located in the southeast corner of Babeldaob, includes a large area in the interior, a thick fringe of mangroves, and several limestone rock islands extending out of the mangroves into the lagoon. At the southeast corner is the large and shallow Airai Bay. The interior and southeast part of the state is drained by the Ngerikiil River, with its tributaries including the Kmekumer and Chedeng. This drainage is one of the largest in Palau. The Ngerimel River, which supplies water for Airai and Koror from a reservoir, occupies a small drainage on the west side of Rois Tungd in the south central part of the state. The drainages along the east and west coast are generally short and steep. A line of low hills parallels the coast. Inland from these hills are rolling hills which rise to the Rael Kedam, the central ridge system on Babeldaob. The Rael Kedam begins at Ngetkib Village and extends north through Rois Tungd and Rois Ngesibang to the boundary with Aimeliik. From here, the Rael Kedam extends north through Rois Ngetechum to the corner of Aimeliik, Ngatpang and Airai, and then extends on to Rois Ormuul and the boundary with Ngchesar. From here, the northern boundary of Airai extends southeast across Rois Beng to the east coast. The inland hills are predominantly covered by forest, while much of the coastal ridge is covered by savanna and short, scrubby vegetation.
The modern villages of Airai include Ngetkib, Ngeruluobel, Ngerusar, Yelch, Airai, and Oikull. In addition, several homes and farms are located along the coastal road in the Ocholochol area and between Ngerusar and Yelch in Ngersung and Ngerullak. Yelch is a modern settlement surrounding the Airai Elementary School and Airai Community Center buildings. With the exception of Koror, Airai is the most densely populated state in Palau. Most of the population is located on the low, natural bench along the coast. The soil here is rich and supports a variety of vegetation and other resources.
Several different kinds of land use in Airai include private gardens, commercial gardens, commercial business, and municipal enterprises. Commercial business range in size from small stores to the large scale quarry operation near Ngeruluobel. Private gardens surround residences and villages, and interspersed with these are stands of agroforest which include coconut, betelnut, breadfruit, almond trees, and banana plants. Also, located along drainages are taro swamp gardens. According to informants, except for occasional forays to hunt pigeon or harvest special plants, there is little active use of most of the interior of Airai.
Airai is most notable for its bai (men's meeting house), the oldest one in existence, dating back 200 years. The turbulent rains of Palau did not treat ancient Palauan architecture kindly. Airai is more inland/mountainous-jungle and therefore more of a bedroom community of Koror.
Map - Airai (State of Airai)
Map
Country - Palau
Flag of Palau |
The country was originally settled approximately 3,000 years ago by migrants from Maritime Southeast Asia. Palau was first drawn on a European map by the German missionary Paul Klein based on a description given by a group of Palauans shipwrecked on the Philippine coast on Samar. Palau islands were made part of the Spanish East Indies in 1885. Following Spain's defeat in the Spanish–American War in 1898, the islands were sold to Germany in 1899 under the terms of the German–Spanish Treaty, where they were administered as part of German New Guinea. After World War I, the islands were made a part of the Japanese-ruled South Seas Mandate by the League of Nations. During World War II, skirmishes, including the major Battle of Peleliu, were fought between American and Japanese troops as part of the Mariana and Palau Islands campaign. Along with other Pacific Islands, Palau was made a part of the United States-governed Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in 1947. Having voted in a referendum against joining the Federated States of Micronesia in 1978, the islands gained full sovereignty in 1994 under a Compact of Free Association with the United States.
Currency / Language
ISO | Currency | Symbol | Significant figures |
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USD | United States dollar | $ | 2 |
ISO | Language |
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ZH | Chinese language |
EN | English language |
JA | Japanese language |