Palau — Capital, Flag and Country Facts

Explore Palau: capital Ngerulmud, population, flag, geography, languages, history and culture.

Palau is in Oceania. Its capital is Ngerulmud.

Climate

Tropical; hot and humid; wet season from May to November; typhoons occasional

Varying from the high mountainous main island of Babeldaob to low coral islands and atolls

Palau has the world's first shark sanctuary, protecting 600,000 sq km of ocean.

Jellyfish Lake in Palau contains millions of golden jellyfish that have lost their sting through evolution.

Palau's Rock Islands were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for their biodiversity and beauty.

1543: Spanish explorer Ruy López de Villalobos is among the first Europeans to sight the islands

1899: Spain sells Palau to Germany following the Spanish-American War

1914: Japan takes control during World War I

1944: Battle of Peleliu, one of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific War

1994: Independence under a Compact of Free Association with the United States

2009: Palau creates the world's first shark sanctuary, protecting 600,000 sq km of ocean