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Fun facts about Tarawa

5 facts - tap any card to flip it and learn more.

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GilbertIslandsPos
island

Tarawa is named for the unusual large ship channel to the lagoon, with its old Gilbertese form meaning 'The Passage'.

Tarawa
Kiribati
Tap to learn more
island

Tarawa

Kiribati

Area
31 km²
Location
Kiribati
69th largest island in the world

Tarawa is an atoll and the capital of the Republic of Kiribati, in the Micronesia region of the central Pacific Ocean.

From the “Etymology” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: Pitichinaccio · CC BY-SA 3.0

Fact 1 permalink
GilbertIslandsPos
island

North Tarawa consists of a string of islets separated by wide channels that are best crossed at low tide.

Tarawa
Kiribati
Tap to learn more
island

Tarawa

Kiribati

Area
31 km²
Location
Kiribati
69th largest island in the world

Tarawa is an atoll and the capital of the Republic of Kiribati, in the Micronesia region of the central Pacific Ocean.

From the “Geography” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: Pitichinaccio · CC BY-SA 3.0

Fact 2 permalink
GilbertIslandsPos
island

The House of Assembly is located in Ambo, while the State House is in Bairiki on South Tarawa.

Tarawa
Kiribati
Tap to learn more
island

Tarawa

Kiribati

Area
31 km²
Location
Kiribati
69th largest island in the world

Tarawa is an atoll and the capital of the Republic of Kiribati, in the Micronesia region of the central Pacific Ocean.

From the “Administration” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: Pitichinaccio · CC BY-SA 3.0

Fact 3 permalink
GilbertIslandsPos
island

Tarawa was the site of the bloody Battle of Tarawa during World War II, which began on 20 November 1943.

Tarawa
Kiribati
Tap to learn more
island

Tarawa

Kiribati

Area
31 km²
Location
Kiribati
69th largest island in the world

Tarawa is an atoll and the capital of the Republic of Kiribati, in the Micronesia region of the central Pacific Ocean.

From the “History” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: Pitichinaccio · CC BY-SA 3.0

Fact 4 permalink
GilbertIslandsPos
island

The 2004 book The Sex Lives of Cannibals is a lighthearted account of the author's two years living on Tarawa.

Tarawa
Kiribati
Tap to learn more
island

Tarawa

Kiribati

Area
31 km²
Location
Kiribati
69th largest island in the world

Tarawa is an atoll and the capital of the Republic of Kiribati, in the Micronesia region of the central Pacific Ocean.

From the “Literature” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: Pitichinaccio · CC BY-SA 3.0

Fact 5 permalink