Kiribati : Profile

Facts

The Republic of Kiribati (pronounced "kiribass"), formerly the Gilbert Islands, is a group of more than 30 islands situated in the centre of the Pacific Ocean around the point where the international date line and the equator cross.Besides the 16 original Gilbert Islands, Kiribati also includes Banaba (Ocean Island), the eight Phoenix Islands, and eight of the eleven Line Islands. All of the islands are low atolls enclosing lagoons, rarely more than 12 ft (4 m) above sea level. The notable exception is Banaba, which is volcanic.
Little grows on these islands except coconut palms and not all of them are inhabited. Kiribati is very isolated, its small islands spread out over more than one million square miles of ocean.
Visiting this sprawling archipelago needs careful planning, a task not made easier by the insistence of the authorities that one must clear in first at the capital Tarawa before going anywhere else. While this is relatively easy if one only intends to visit the northern group of the original Gilberts, where Tarawa occupies a central position, a visit to the outer islands such as Christmas, Canton or Fanning presents almost insurmountable logistical problems because of the prevailing winds and currents. This remoteness is one of the things which makes these islands so intriguing and any amount of officialdom cannot spoil the pleasure of visiting them.
Christmas Island in particular is a convenient stopover point for boats on passage between Hawaii and French Polynesia. Site of former British nuclear tests, the island was handed over to Kiribati on that country's independence. The island is a sanctuary to millions of sea birds and access to the breeding areas is prohibited.
Fanning Island (Tabuaerean), only 160 miles farther north, is a typical Pacific island, clean, welcoming and self-sufficient.
These Line Islands, together with Washington, belong to Kiribati and their local names have been confused, and are often wrongly depicted in nautical publications. Their correct names are: Kirimati (Christmas), Fanning (Tabuaerean) and Teraina (Washington).
Navigational aids are not very reliable and it is reported that most atolls are without lights after midnight.
Most facilities available in Kiribati are concentrated on Tarawa which comprises several islands around a lagoon. Facilities the other islands are basic with few imported goods and a limited selection of locally produced fruit and vegetables, but there is plenty of fish everywhere. Water is often scarce and can be a problem in the southern and central parts of the group.

Most islands have an equatorial climate, while the islands to the extreme north and south of the group are tropical. November to April is the rainy season, with high humidity and stronger winds. Rainfall is not reliable and drought can be a problem for all the islands. The prevailing easterlies keep the climate pleasant, although temperatures can be high, 80-85°F (27-29°C) on average.