Heavenly Desserts That Are Easy To Make
Despite its vast maritime area, Kiribati’s total land area is only about 313 sq miles (811 sq km), which makes it one of the smallest countries in the world.
The islands were created by volcanic activity millions of years ago. As dozens of volcanoes erupted in the ocean, deposits of ash and magma cooled and created the general shape of the islands.
The country’s islands are divided into three groups: the Gilbert Islands, the Line Islands, and the Phoenix Islands. All of the atolls are spread out over the area where the equator and the International Date Line meet, making it the only country in the world that exists in all four hemispheres.
These islands make up most of the nation of Kiribati. Indeed, the country’s capital city of Tarawa is located on one of the atolls in this group, where more than 50% of the nation’s population resides.
The Line Islands are made up of 11 atolls, but only eight of them belong to Kiribati. The remaining three are territories of the United States. Interestingly, there is a 12th unconfirmed atoll that is shown on some maps, but the existence of the island is heavily disputed.
Also known as Rawaki, the Phoenix Islands consist of eight atolls that lie west of the Line Islands and east of the Gilbert Islands. All but one of the atolls in this group are actually uninhabited and form part of the third largest marine protected area in the world.
The official languages of Kiribati are Gilbertese (also known as I-Kiribati) and English. Gilbertese is widely spoken as the local dialect, while English is used in government and education.