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The Palau archipelago contains more than 250 islands and islets stretched along a 150 km north south trending arc in the western Pacific. Its center is located near 7° north latitude, some 650 km north of Jayapura on the island of New Guinea , and near 134° east latitude, some 900 km east of Mindanao , Philippines.
Palau's capital, Ngerulmud, is located on Babeldaob, in Melekeok State. Babeldaob is one of the most underdeveloped populated islands in the Pacific Ocean. The area of Babeldaob, 331 km 2 (128 sq mi), makes up over 70% of the land area of the entire Republic of Palau.
The name "Palau" originated in the Spanish Los Palaos, eventually entering English via the German Palau. An archaic name for the islands in English was the "Pelew Islands". [16] The name of the country "Palau" is most likely not derived from the Malay word "Pulau," despite the similarity in its word form.
Aba Thule, King of Palau, 1883 Map of 1888 showing the Spanish East Indies, including Palau Islands (map without Philippines) In the late 19th century, possession of the islands was claimed by Britain, Spain, and Imperial Germany. In 1885, the matter was brought to Pope Leo XIII for a decision. The Pope recognized the Spanish claim, but granted ...
Geography of Palau. Palau is: an island country; Location: Northern Hemisphere and Eastern Hemisphere; Pacific Ocean. North Pacific Ocean Oceania. Micronesia; Time zone: UTC+09; Extreme points of Palau High: Mount Ngerchelchuus on Babeldaob 242 m (794 ft) Low: North Pacific Ocean 0 m; Land boundaries: none; Coastline: North Pacific Ocean 1,519 km
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The ecoregion has a humid tropical climate. The mean annual temperature in the capital city of Koror is 27º C, and the mean annual rainfall averages 3,730 mm. Rainfall is plentiful year-round, with more during the May through November summer rainy season, and less between February and April. [1]
Ngerulmud is derived from a Palauan phrase meaning "place of fermented angelfish", referring to the hill overlooking the ocean that dominates the site.The last syllable, mud, is the Palauan word for Centropyge tibicen, also known as the keyhole angelfish.