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| Country | Nauru |
| State | Yaren |
| Founded | 1798 |
| Area | 1.5 km2 |
| Population | 820 (2006) |
| Lat Long Coordinates | 0°32′52″S 166°55′15″E |
| Time Zone | UTC+12 |
| area Code | 674 |
| Language | Nauru and English |
| Major Religion | Christianity and Bahá’ |
| Point of interest | Eyup, Parliament House, Japanese Guns |
About City :
Yaren is the de facto capital of Nauru, the world’s smallest republic. It is the country’s administrative center and has a population of about 1000. The prevalent languages are Nauruan and English. It was earlier known as Makwa or Moqua. It was occupied by Japan during the World War II and by Australian forces during Globe War I until its independence in 1968.
It is mostly known for its phosphate mining.
Geography :
Located at the south of Nauru, Yaren is on the Pacific Ocean. It is bordered by Buada at its north, Meneng to its east and Boe to its west. It has a total area of 1.5 km.
How to Reach (Transport) :
Yaren houses the Nauru International Airport, currently served by Air Nauru only. Flights can be availed to cities like Majuro, Brisbane, Tarawa, etc. Due to being completely surrounded by coral reef, the island doesn’t have any boating services.
Inside the city, there are barely 2,000 motor vehicles and it’s easier to just walk around. Yaren is surrounded by a 19km road and a city bus keeps traveling around the city. Cars can also be rented.
When to Visit :
Being close to the equator, Yaren has a typical tropical climate, humid and warm throughout the year. During the day, temperatures can rise up to 32 degree Celsius while most nights are considerably cooler at 25. The wet season lasts from November to February, although it has varied over the last few years with even a few draught spells. The best time to visit Yaren would be from April to October when the weather is relatively drier. During these months, it is mostly sunny and the easterly trade winds keep it reasonably cool.
Fairs and Festivals :
The following festivals are celebrated in Yaren :
- Independence Day is celebrated on 31st of January that includes speeches, flag hoisting and singing of the national anthem. Other activities include a fishing competition, wrestling matches and an inter-district clean up competition.
- Constitution Day, celebrated on 17th of May begins with a colorful team parade and continues on with a variety of sports activities.
- National Youth Day, held on 25th August across the country emphasizes on healthy living. However it is celebrated throughout the week with various activities like tug-of-war, volleyball, etc.
- Angam Day is celebrated on 26th of October. Unlike other countries, Nauru struggles to maintain its total population of 1500 and this day is to celebrate the birth of the baby who first helped the island reach the 1500 benchmark.
Points of Interest (Places to Visit) :
The places to visit in Yaren are as follows :
- Moqua Wall, located just below the Yaren district is an underground lake.
- Buada Lagoon, east of Aiwo district is a slightly brackish, landlocked freshwater lake. The land surrounding the lake is the only fertile area on the island and is abundant in trees especially palm trees, pandanus trees and also hardwood trees like tomano trees.
- Moqua Caves, a series of underground caves which are an important feature of Pacific Ocean’s geological profile.
Other attractions include Linkbelt Oval, Meneng Stadium and old bunkers left from the World War II.
Accommodation :
Yaren has only two hotels, Hotel Meden and Hotel Od’n Aiwa. Hotel Meden is located to the south of Anibare bay and is the more expensive out of the two. It also houses the only bar in the whole country and has a better view of the sea. Hotel Od’n Aiwa is comparatively cheaper but is better maintained.