Nauru Island

Nauru Island

Large parts of Nauru Island rise slightly steeply out of the ocean and have no harbors or sheltered anchorages. A relatively fertile, but rather narrow belt surrounds the island, and the shallow inland Buada lagoon. Further inland, there are coral reefs rising to a plateau 30 meters above sea level, with the highest point at around 65 meters. Much of the plateau is composed of guano, a rock phosphate leached from bird droppings. This mineral deposit occupies more than two-thirds of the island, and mining has left irregular, craggy limestone outcrops that give the landscape an otherworldly appearance. On the east of Nauru Island is Anibare Bay, a large bay in the Anibare district, its Beach is over two kilometers long. The Anibare Bay is the result of the underwater collapse of the eastern side of the volcano beneath Nauru. A great arch-shaped block slid off the side of Nauru and turned inside out. This block stretches some 1100 meters below sea level. The escarpment of Anibare Bay is a series of wooded cliffs overlooking the bay. It extends from vertical cliffs to gently sloping areas and includes the island's richest remaining native vegetation. This is an area of 35 hectares that has been recognized by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area, as it is reported to have the highest concentration of the island's endemic Nauru Reed Warbler and is also home to tree-nesting seabirds like Black Noddies. Although Anibare Bay is a well-known destination for tourists and hikers, it can be dangerous at times due to frequent strong waves and rip currents.