Geography
The Republic of Nauru is an island in Oceania, south of the Marshall Islands.

The government offices are situated in the District of Yaren.

Nauru, an uplifted coral formation, is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean.

The climate is tropical with the rainy season from November to February.

Environment
The small island of Nauru is surrounded by a reef. It has a coastal strip and a raised central plateau.

The plateau is known as "topside" and has been the site of open-cast phosphate mining since the early part of the twentieth century.

Coconut palms and pandanus trees grow on the coastal strip and bananas and vegetables are grown in the Buada lagoon area.

Big game fish, such as marlin, are found in the surrounding sea. Other inhabitants of the waters off the Nauruan coast are sailfish, known to swim up to 110 kph, and the marine turtle.

A number of species of birds can be found on the island. Birds include the Nauruan Reed Warbler and the Great Frigatebird.

Architecture
Revenue from phosphate has provided finance for public buildings such as Government House and Parliament House.

Most of the people of Nauru live on the coastal strip; some live around Buada Lagoon.

A housing scheme provides homes for a number of the Nauruan population.

Population
The population of Nauru was estimated at 9,322 in 2011.

Languages
Nauruan is widely spoken. English is used in government, business, and commerce.

Religion
The majority of the people of Nauru are Christian: Protestant and Roman Catholic.

Food
There is little land suitable for agriculture in Nauru and most food is imported.

Rice, a staple food, is often eaten with fresh fish. Bananas and coconuts are grown.

Kava, made from the roots of piper methysticum, is a traditional drink.

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