Tarawa

 

(tərä'wə, tăr'əwä) , atoll (1990 pop. 28,802), capital of Kiribati, central Pacific, previously capital of the former British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands. The administrative center of the atoll is Bairiki island. Betio island, the chief commercial center of country, is a port of entry through which copra and pearl shell exported. Tarawa is the site of a teacher's training college and a marine training school, as well as an international airport. The population is mainly Micronesian.

During World War II the colony headquarters were moved there from Banaba (formerly Ocean Island). Tarawa was occupied by the Japanese (1941–43) and fell to U.S. marines after a bloody battle. In the early 1990s the southern part of the capital, particularly Betio, had one of the highest population densities in the world, leading the government to resettle residents on less crowded islands.

Tarawa is an atoll in the central Pacific Ocean, previously the capital of the former British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands. It is the location of the capital of the Republic of Kiribati, South Tarawa. The island is known by outsiders as being the site of the Battle of Tarawa during World War II.

Geography

Tarawa consists of around 24 larger islets, of which at least 8 are inhabited. The largest islet (South Tarawa) extends from Bonriki (southeast corner of the atoll) along the entire south side but Betio of the lagoon to Bairiki. A causeway now connects Bairiki to Betio (Japanese causeway). The largest town, Bikenibeu, and the only airport on Tarawa, Bonriki International Airport, are on South Tarawa.

Location

Tarawa is located at approximately latitude 1°22'47" N, longitude 173°09'06" E (Bonriki Airport).

Islets

• Abanuea (submerged since 1999 due to changing ocean currents and sea level rise)
• Abaokoro
• Abatao
• Bairiki
• Betio
• Bikeman Island (now submerged due to changing ocean currents)
• Biketawa
• Bonriki
• Buariki
• Buota
• Kainaba
• Marenanuka
• Na'a
• Nabeina
• Notoue (Eretibou)
• Nuatabu
• Tabiang
• Tabiteuea
• Tabonibara
• Taratai
• Tearinibai
• Tebua Tarawa (submerged since 1999 due to changing ocean currents and sea level rise)
• Temaiku
• ...

Towns and villages

Abatao - Bairiki - Bikenibeu - Bonriki - Buariki - Buota - Eita - Marenanuka - Taborio - Teaoraereke

Demographics

The population (as of 1990) was 28,802. The population is mostly Gilbertese (Micronesian). This probably exceeds the carrying capacity of the islands and is maintained at its current level without starvation principally due to foreign aid, largely from New Zealand.

Government administration

Tarawa atoll has three administrative subdivisions:

• Teinainano Urban Council (or TUC), from Bairiki to Bonriki, known in English as South Tarawa, the capital of the Republic of Kiribati;
• Betio Town Council (or BTC), on Betio Islet;
• North Tarawa or Tarawa Ieta (all the islets on the east side north of Bonriki).

The main administrative centre for the Republic of Kiribati is located at Bairiki on South Tarawa. The Parliament meets on Ambo islet and some administration offices are on Betio Islet and in Bikenibeu and one is located on Kiritimati.

History

During World War II, Tarawa was occupied by the Japanese, and starting on November 20, 1943 it was the scene of the bloody Battle of Tarawa. On that day United States Marines landed on Tarawa and Makin atolls and suffered heavy losses from Japanese soldiers occupying entrenched positions on the atolls. The Marines secured the island after three days of intense fighting.

Economy

Betio Islet includes the main port through which copra and pearl shell are exported.

The currency of Kiribati is the Australian dollar.

Miscellaneous

USS Tarawa (LHA-1) is the name of the first LHA-class amphibious assault ship.

Tarawa is the site of a teachers' training college and a marine training school, as well as an international airport.

The book The Sex Lives of Cannibals by J. Maarten Troost is a humorous account of the author's two years living on Tarawa.

Tarawa is the site of the 1944 Pulitzer Prize winning photograph depicting a blown-up bunker by Frank Filan.

The book Return to Mars by Ben Bova uses Tarawa as mission control for an expedition to Mars.

External links

• Tarawa on The Web
• The Marine Assault of Tarawa
• Tarawa the Aftermath

Coordinates: 1°25′N, 173°02′E

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