Sonsorol

Sonsorol
State
Merir Island, Sonsorol State
Flag
Location of Sonsorol in Palau
Country	Palau
Capital	Dongosaru
Area
• Total	3.12 km2(1.20 sq mi)
• Land	3.12 km2(1.20 sq mi)
• Water	0 km2(0 sq mi)
Population (2015 Census)
• Total	40
• Density	13/km2(33/sq mi)
• Official languages	Palauan English Sonsorolese
ISO 3166 code	PW-370

Sonsorolis one of the sixteen states ofPalau.The inhabitants speakSonsorolese,a localChuukiclanguage, andPalauan.

The islands of the state of Sonsorol, together with the islands ofHatohobei,form theSouthwest Islandsof Palau. By area and population it is the country’s third smallest state (after Hatohobei and Kayangel.)

History

The first sighting by Europeans of the Sonsorols, was that of Sonsorol and Fanna by the Spanish shipTrinidadthen commanded by Gonzalo Gómez de Espinosa on 6 May 1522.These two were collectively charted as theSan Juan(St. John) Islands as they were sighted on the day of its festivity. A Spanish missionary expedition commanded bySargento MayorFrancisco Padillaarrived on Sonsorol on 30 November 1710, coming fromManilaaboard thepatacheSantísima Trinidad.In 1712 they were explored by an expedition commanded by Spanish naval officer Bernardo de Egoy.

In 1899Spaindecided to sell the islands to theGerman Empire,which lost control over the territory inWorld War I,whenJapantook over. TheUnited Statestook possession of the area at the end ofWorld War IIand controlled it until Palau's independence.

During December 2012, the state suffered severely fromTyphoon Bophaand people were evacuated to Arakabesang inKoror.There were 37 people from Sonsorol, 19 from Pulo Anna, and two from Merir. A couple of months later, and due to a government decision, only Sonsorol was re-inhabited, as it cheaper and closer to get to and send supplies to. Forty-two people returned to the island, and it is the only inhabited island in the state as of 2014.

Geography

The administrative center, and only village, isDongosaruon Sonsorol island. The state has a total area of 312 hectares (771 acres) distributed among several islands.

Islands

The state is subdivided into fourmunicipalities,which correspond to the four individual islands that previously were inhabited. The islands are, from north to south (Fanna Island and Sonsorol Island are together called Sonsorol Islands):

No.	Municipality (Island)	Village (or Former)	Area	Population census 2015	Coordinates
1	Fanna	-	0.48 km2(0.19 sq mi)	0	05°21′09″N132°13′32″E
2	Sonsorol	Dongosaru	1.31 km2(0.51 sq mi)	40	05°19′28″N132°13′16″E
3	Pulo Anna		0.42 km2(0.16 sq mi)	0	04°39′34″N131°57′49″E
4	Merir		0.91 km2(0.35 sq mi)	0	04°19′27″N132°18′37″E
	State of Sonsorol	Dongosaru	3.12 km2(1.20 sq mi)	40

Fanna

Fanna Island

Fanna, also calledFana,is encircled by acoral reefextending 160 to 480 metres (520 to 1,570 ft) offshore, and nearly circular in shape, with a diameter of 350 metres (1,150 ft). The island is thickly wooded withcoconut palmsand other trees. The island is referenced as amunicipality.Mariano Carlos served as chief from 2000 until theTyphoon Bophaevacuation. Fanna Island and nearby Sonsorol Island, located 1.6 kilometres (0.99 mi; 0.86 nmi) to the south, together form the Sonsorol Islands.

Sonsorol

Sonsorol Island

Sonsorol Island, also calledDongosaroorDongosaru,is encircled by a coral reef extending 160 to 480 metres (520 to 1,570 ft) offshore. It is 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) long north-to-south, and up to 890 metres (2,920 ft) wide in the north. It is located 1.6 kilometres (0.99 mi; 0.86 nmi) south of Fanna Island. The village of Dongosaro, which is thecapitalof the state, is located on the west coast. The island is thickly wooded with coconut palms and other trees. Together with Fanna, it forms the Sonsorol Islands.

Sonsorol was probably the first of Palau Islands visited by aEuropean- theJesuitexpedition ofFrancisco Padillaon 30 November 1710. A year afterTyphoon Bopha,the Palau government issued a reconstruction plan for the island, and also built a small dock there.

Pulo Anna

Map including Pulo Anna (DMA,1982)

Pulo Anna orPurois fringed by a coral reef extending beyond 460 metres (1,510 ft) offshore. The island itself is about elliptical and measures 800 metres (2,600 ft) northeast-southwest, and is up to 550 metres (1,800 ft) wide. A village named Puro was once on the northwest side of the island. Pulo Anna lies in the flow of theEquatorial Countercurrentthroughout the year.

Merir

Satellite view of the Island of Merir

Merir Island, orMelieli,is fringed by reef which extends beyond 1,100 metres (3,600 ft) offshore in the south and 160 metres (520 ft) in the north. The edges of the reef are steep-to, except at the northern end where a spit, with a depth of 12.8 metres (42 ft) at its outer end, extends about 1,300 metres (4,300 ft) northward. The island itself is 2.2 kilometres (1.4 mi) long north-to-south, and up to 600 metres (2,000 ft) wide. A village named Melieli, which had a radio station, was located on the northwest side of the island.

Demography

The population of the state was 40 in the 2015 census and the median age was 30.0 years.The official languages of the state arePalauan,English,andSonsorolese.Nurap is the title of the traditional high chief from the state.

Political system

The state of Sonsorol, with population of less than 50, has an elected chief executive, governor. The state also has a legislature elected every four years.The state population elects one of the members of theHouse of Delegates of Palau.

Pulo Anna Shoreline

Education

TheMinistry of Educationoperates two public schools in the state:

• Pulo Anna Elementary School - Built in 1972, it has one classroom and one teacher, with facilities for its students (five, as of September 2018) to stay on the otherwise deserted island
• Sonsorol Elementary School - Established in 1972, it has one classroom and one teacher, to serve the students (thirteen, as of September 2018) who already live on the island

In 1962, the country opened its only public high school,Palau High SchoolinKoror City,which is 300 kilometres (190 mi) across the water from Sonsorol; children from Sonsorol state make arrangements to live in Koror City if they choose to continue their grade school education.

External links

• Sonsorol Island
• Municipalities with Chiefs mentioned
• Satellite views
• Sailing Directions
• Atoll Research Bulletin 267
• Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Palau to the UK &NI
• Constitution of the State of Sonsorol