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 best known by outsiders as the site of the Battle of Tarawa during World War II.
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Tarawa consists of around 24 larger islets, of which at least eight 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, called the "Japanese causeway", now connects Bairiki to Betio. The largest town, Bikenibeu, and the only airport on Tarawa, Bonriki International Airport, are on South Tarawa. Tarawa is located at approximately latitude 1°22'47" N, longitude 173°09'06" E (Bonriki Airport).
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 Australia, Japan and New Zealand.
Between 1995 and 2000, a prominent wave of immigrants from the outer islands settled in South Tarawa, causing an urban growth rate of 5.2%. Although the immigration plateaued during the five following years, the overcrowding persisted in several areas of the atoll.[1] The overcrowding triggered the concern about unsustainable development in South Tarawa.[2] Anote Tong's administration undertook different measures in order to ease the problem in the country's main urban center, including the buildings of centers to spread out around the islands and relieve the atoll from the overcrowding issue.[3]
Tarawa atoll has three administrative subdivisions:
The main administrative center 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.
Thomas Gilbert, captain of the East India Company vessel Charlotte, was the first European to describe Tarawa, arriving on June 20, 1788.[4] Gilbert's 1788 sketches survive.
Sir Arthur Grimble was a cadet administrative officer based at Tarawa (1913-1919);.[5] and became Resident Commissioner of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony in 1926.[6]
During World War II, Tarawa was occupied by the Japanese, and beginning on November 20, 1943 it was the scene of the bloody Battle of Tarawa. On that day United States Marines landed on Tarawa and suffered heavy losses from Japanese soldiers occupying entrenched positions on the atoll. The Marines secured the island after 76 hours of intense fighting with around 6,000 dead in total from both sides.
Betio Islet includes the main port through which copra and pearl shell are exported. S.P.M.S, South Pacific Marine Service is a crewing agency in Tarawa. Currently there are more than 950 seamen working for S.P.M.S worldwide.
The currency of Kiribati is the Australian dollar.
WWW.RETURNTOTARAWA.COM
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