Geography
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Map of the state of Koror
The state of Koror (population 11,444 as of 2015[update]) contains about 65% of the population of the country. The nation's
former capital and largest town, also called Koror or Koror City, is located here. The town has a population of 11,200 and is located at 07°20′32″N 134°28′38″E / 7.34222°N 134.47722°E / 7.34222; 134.47722.
Besides Koror City and the city of Meyuns, there are a total of 11 hamlets in the state of Koror:
Dngeronger
Idid
Ikelau
Iyebukel
Medalaii
Meketii
Ngarkesoal
Ngerbeched (Capital)
Ngerchemai
Ngerkebesang
Ngermid
Koror State stretches across a large portion of the lagoon extending from Babeldaob Island on the north almost to Beliliou Island to the south. Though widely spread, the actual land mass of Koror is not great and consists of hundreds of islands and islets including most of the Rock Islands of Palau. Koror encompasses perhaps the most varied range of geography in Micronesia with many different kinds of physical and social settings. In the northern part of the state are three volcanic islands: Koror, Ngerekebesang, and Ngemelachel.
Across Koror Island, the intensive land use in the last two centuries has radically altered the land's shape. Most vegetation has been cleared for house construction or put into gardens. Steep slopes have dense secondary growth brush. On Ngerekebesang Island, the land use has not been quite as intense and areas on the northwest coast contain stands of volcanic island forest. To the south, the Rock Islands offer a landscape that appears out of this world. The Rock Islands consist of uplifted coralline limestone reef with shear cliffs rising above a characteristic sea-level notch. Small beaches have formed in a few coves and provide access to the interiors. The ground is not covered by soil, but instead consists of dog-toothed sharp chunks of reef which have broken off of the crags and spires jutting skyward in an unpredictable maze. The islands are covered by a rock island forest and vines clinging to crevices in the limestone. In places, sinkholes contain marine lakes, and in other places the sinkholes contain wind-blown soil.
Presently, most land in Koror is involved in urban development with gardens interspersed with houses and business. The Rock Islands offer valuable areas for exploiting the rich lagoon, and for the development of the tourist industry.
Koror was formerly the capital of the South Seas Mandate, a League of Nations mandated territory administered by the Empire of Japan.
