Palau is an archipelago of about 250 islands, located in the
western Pacific Ocean. It is its own country – the Republic of
Palau, although geographically it is part of the larger island
group of Micronesia. For over 30 years it was a part of the United
Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific under United States
administration. It finally gained its total independence in
1994.
Palau is a beautiful tropical paradise, and one of the true
unspoiled destinations on the planet. Most of the 100-plus islands
are small low-lying coral islands, ringed by barrier reefs and
uninhabited. The country's population of around 21,000 is spread
across 250 islands forming the western chain of the Caroline
Islands.
Although presently uninhabited, the islands were once home to
Palauan settlements, and Palauans continue to use the area and its
resources for cultural and recreational purposes. The islands
contain a significant set of cultural remains relating to an
occupation over some five thousand years that ended in abandonment.
Archaeological remains of former human occupation in caves and
villages, including rock art and burials, testifies to seasonal
human occupation and use of the marine ecosystem, dating back to
3,100 BC and extending over some 2,500 years.
