Featured Places: Featured Place: Nauru (Pleasant Island)

A tiny island nation located in the South Pacific, Nauru has a very interesting history but is in danger of loosing its people and culture forever. It was originally settled by Micronesian people, but in 1886, Germany gained control of the island under the Anglo-German Convention. In 1900, phosphate was first discovered. In 1906, the Pacific Phosphate Company exported its first shipment of the mineral, which began the Nauru's claim to fame and eventual destruction.

There are few beautiful places left on the island, only along the coast is the
environment nearly untouched from mining.

After WW2, Australia gained control of the country due to its close proximity, but in 1968, Nauru gained its Independence.
After experiencing tremendous growth from phosphorus exportation in the 70's and 80's, the environmental repercussions of strip mining began to take its toll. In 2006, all of the phosphorus was depleted, leaving the island in a state of poverty and desolation.

With no consistent source of income anymore, Nauru has dwindled in population and the unemployment rate is 90%, of which 95% people who are employed are employed by the government.

This is a sad story of a once prosperous nation and is the life story of many of the local inhabitants. The nation is currently trying to recover by promoting its tourism industry, but without a source of income now, it is unable to clean up its environment to its once beautiful state. There is currently one hotel on the island (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g294127-d446967-Reviews-Menen_Hotel-Nauru.html) and more information can be found at Naurus national tourism site (http://www.discovernauru.com/)