Page 48 - Micronesia
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he United States Coast Guard patrols in   two-thirds of the population lives on Koror.  2013 Pacific typhoon season. A manda-
                                               The coral atoll of Kayangel is north of       tory evacuation was issued for Kayangel. A
T national waters. As a sovereign nation,                                                    storm surge damaged several houses.
Palau conducts its own foreign relations.      these islands, while the uninhabited Rock
                                                                                             W hile much of Palau remains free of
Since independence, Palau has established Islands (about 200) are west of the main                    environmental degradation, areas of
                                                                                             concern include illegal dynamite fishing,
diplomatic relations with a number of na- island group. A remote group of six islands,       inadequate solid waste disposal facilities in
                                                                                             Koror and extensive sand and coral dredg-
tions, including many of its Pacific neigh- known as the Southwest Islands, some 375         ing in the Palau lagoon. As with other Pa-
                                                                                             cific island nations, rising sea level presents
bors. Palau was admitted to the United Na- miles (604 km) from the main islands, make        a major environmental threat. Inundation
                                                                                             of low-lying areas threatens coastal vegeta-
tions on 15 December 1994 and has since up the states of Hatohobei and Sonsorol.             tion, agriculture and already-insufficient
                                                                                             water supply. Wastewater treatment is a
joined several other international organiza-                                                 problem, along with the handling of toxic
tions. In international politics, Palau often                                                waste from fertilizers and biocides.
                                               alau has a tropical climate with an
Pvotes with the United States with respect to  annual mean temperature of 82 °F (28

United Nations General Assembly resolu- °C). Rainfall is heavy throughout the year,

tions.                                         averaging 150 inches (3,800 mm). The aver-

P alau’s most populous islands are An-         age humidity is 82% and although rain falls
      gaur, Babeldaob, Koror and Peleliu. The  more frequently between July and October,
                                               there is still much sunshine. Typhoons are

latter three lie together within the same      rare, as Palau is outside the main typhoon

barrier reef, while Angaur is an oceanic       zone. The most recent typhoon that struck

island several miles to the south. About       Palau was Typhoon Haiyan during the
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