Ngerulmud(Palauan pronunciation:[ŋəˈɾulmuð]) is theseat of governmentof theRepublic of Palau,an island nation in thePacific Ocean.It replacedKoror Cityas a capital in 2006. The settlement is located in thestate of MelekeokonBabeldaob,the country's largest island, located 20 kilometers (12 miles) northeast ofKoror Cityand 2 km (1 mile) northwest ofMelekeok City.[2] It is theleast-populous capital cityof a sovereign nation in the world.
Ngerulmud | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Location withinMelekeok State | |
  Ngerulmud Location inPalau | |
| Coordinates:7°30′2″N134°37′27″E/ 7.50056°N 134.62417°E | |
| Country |  Palau |
| State |  Melekeok |
| Area | |
| • Land | 0.45 km2(0.17 sq mi) |
| Population (2024) | |
• Total | 0[1]
|
| Time zone | UTC+9(Palau Standard Time) |
| ZIP code | 96939 |
| Area code | (+680) 654 |
Etymology
editNgerulmudis derived from aPalauanphrase meaning "place of fermentedangelfish",referring to the hill overlooking the ocean that dominates the site. The last syllable,mud,is the Palauan word forCentropyge tibicen,also known as the keyhole angelfish. In the past, under a local tradition, women gathered on the hill to offer fermented angelfish to the gods.[3]
History
editThe previous capital of Palau was located provisionally in Koror. The country's constitution, ratified in 1979, directed thePalau National Congressto establish a permanent capital inBabeldaobwithin ten years of the constitution's effective date.[4]The new capital's planning began in 1986, when a contract for the construction of the capitol complex was assigned to a Hawaii-based architecture firm, Architects Hawaii Ltd. (AHL), which had previously designed the capitol complex of theFederated States of Micronesia,located atPalikir.Progress was slow, as Palau lacked engineers and architects, and most of the construction materials had to be imported.[5]
Further work was not begun until the early 2000s when Palau secured a $20 million loan fromTaiwanas part of efforts to enhance relations between the two countries andsecure Palau's diplomatic recognition of Taiwan.[6]Containing separate buildings for theOlbiil era Kelulau(the country's legislature), and also thejudicialandexecutivebranches, connected via a central open plaza, the complex cost overUS$45 million, and was officially opened on 7 October 2006, with over 5,000 people in attendance.[7]Government officials moved their offices from Koror to Ngerulmud shortly after.[8]
A 2013 piece inThe Wall Street Journalreported that the capitol building, which was "unsuited to the local climate", had put Palau in debt, and a fault in the ventilation system had recently caused a mold infestation.[9]In April 2013, Ngerulmud's post office was closed permanently, as part of cost-cutting measures implemented by the postmaster, Tommy Sinsak. It had been established in December 2011, following anOlbiil era Kelulauresolution,and was one of only two in the country (the other being in Koror). During its 16 months of operation, expenses had exceeded US$30,000, while revenues, mainly from stamps, were less than $2,000.[10]Ngerulmud is the only settlement in Palau to have its ownZIP code(96939), with the rest of the country using 96940 – theUnited States Postal Serviceservices Palau as part of theCompact of Free Associationwith the United States.[11]
In July 2014, Ngerulmud hosted the official opening of the45th Pacific Islands Forum.However, the majority of events at the forum were held in Koror, with the leader's retreat held inPeleliu State.[12][13]In February 2016, Ngerulmud hosted the 16th Micronesian Presidents' Summit, which was attended by the presidents of Palau, theMarshall Islands,and theFederated States of Micronesia.[14]
Geography
editClimate
edit| Climate data for Ngerulmud (1985~2015) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 31 (88) |
31 (88) |
32 (90) |
32 (90) |
32 (90) |
31 (88) |
31 (88) |
31 (88) |
31 (88) |
32 (90) |
32 (90) |
32 (90) |
32 (89) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 28 (82) |
28 (82) |
28 (82) |
28 (82) |
28 (82) |
28 (82) |
28 (82) |
28 (82) |
28 (82) |
28 (82) |
28 (82) |
28 (82) |
28 (82) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 24 (75) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
25 (77) |
25 (77) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
24 (75) |
25 (77) |
25 (77) |
24 (75) |
24 (76) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 189.2 (7.45) |
168.5 (6.63) |
132.6 (5.22) |
148.6 (5.85) |
263.7 (10.38) |
326.6 (12.86) |
323.4 (12.73) |
254.6 (10.02) |
222.2 (8.75) |
204.1 (8.04) |
211.9 (8.34) |
221.8 (8.73) |
2,667.2 (105) |
| Averagerelative humidity(%) | 83 | 82 | 81 | 82 | 84 | 85 | 84 | 83 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 84 | 83 |
| Source: Time and Date[15] | |||||||||||||
Population
editPopulation statistics are not recorded separately for Ngerulmud, as it has no defined borders and consists solely of government buildings. At the 2020 national census, the state of Melekeok, in which Ngerulmud is located, had a population of 318 people,[1]making it one of theleast-populated national capitals or seats of government.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abc"2020 Census of Population and Housing of the Republic of Palau"(PDF).p. 10.
- ^According toGoogle Earthand topographic maps.
- ^Liston, Jolie (2011).Pacific Island Heritage: Archaeology, Identity & Community.Australian National University. p. 192.ISBN978-1921862489.
- ^Constitution of the Republic of PalauArchived7 November 2012 at theWayback Machine– Embassy of the Republic of Palau, Washington, DC. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
- ^Lucy Jokiel (1 December 1995). "Trading places: while Hawaii's economy bottoms out, Guam's and Palau's are ready to take off" –Hawaii Investor.Retrieved from Factiva, 25 August 2014.
- ^Ralph Jennings (5 September 2006). "Taiwan hands economic aid to firm ties with Palau" – Reuters. Retrieved from Factiva, 25 August 2014.
- ^"Pride in Palau for new Capitol"–The Honolulu Advertiser.Published 12 November 2006. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
- ^US Department of State. Background Note – Palau:Government offices moved to a new National Capitol Building complex located at Ngerulmud, Melekeok State
- ^David Walter (1 March 2013). "Sequestration in Paradise: Palau worries it will be collateral damage in Washington's budget fight" –The Wall Street Journal.Retrieved from Factiva, 25 August 2014.
- ^Aurea Gerundio-Dizon (23 April 2013)."Palau Capital Building Post Office ‘Closed For Good’"Archived4 March 2016 at theWayback Machine–Island Times.Retrieved 2 March 2015.
- ^Maripet L. Poso (3 November 2010)."House requests Toribiong to establish Post Office in Ngerulmud"–Marianas Variety.Retrieved 2 March 2015.
- ^Calendar of EventsArchived21 January 2015 at theWayback Machine– Palau PIF. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- ^"Pacific Islands Forum opens in Palau with plea to protect world's oceans"– Radio Australia. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- ^(23 February 2016)."16th Micronesian Presidents’ Summit concludes"–Island Times.Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- ^"Climate in Ngerulmud".Retrieved3 February2024.
External links
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