Cruising to KiribatiBackgroundThe Gilbert Islands were granted self-rule by the UK in 1971 and complete independence in 1979 under the new name of Kiribati. The US relinquished all claims to the sparsely inhabited Phoenix and Line Island groups in a 1979 treaty of friendship with Kiribati. GeographyLocation: Oceania, group of 33 coral atolls in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the
Equator; the capital Tarawa is about one-half of the way from Hawaii to
Australia; note - on 1 January 1995, Kiribati proclaimed that all of its
territory lies in the same time zone as its Gilbert Islands group (GMT +12) even
though the Phoenix Islands and the Line Islands under its jurisdiction lie on
the other side of the International Date Line Coastline1,143 km Maritime claimsTerritorial sea: 12 nm ClimateTropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds TerrainMostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs Elevation extremesLowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m EconomyA remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls, Kiribati has few natural resources. Commercially viable phosphate deposits were exhausted at the time of independence from the UK in 1979. Copra and fish now represent the bulk of production and exports. The economy has fluctuated widely in recent years. Economic development is constrained by a shortage of skilled workers, weak infrastructure, and remoteness from international markets. Tourism provides more than one-fifth of GDP. The financial sector is at an early stage of development as is the expansion of private sector initiatives. Foreign financial aid from UK, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and China equals about 20% of GDP. Remittances from seamen on merchant ships abroad account for more than $5 million each year. Kiribati receives around $15 million annually for the government budget from an Australian trust fund. TransportationAirports: 19 (2005) Waterways5 km (small network of canals in Line Islands) (2003) Merchant marineTotal: 2 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,749 GRT/3,911 DWT Sailing Specifics: Ports and terminalsBetio Other Sailing Destinations in the RegionAmerican Samoa - Australia - Cook Island - Easter Islands (Chile) - Federation of Micronesia - Fiji - Guam - USA (Hawaii) - Kiribati - Marshall Islands - Nauru - New Caledonia - New Zealand - Niue - Norfolk Island - Northern Mariana Islands - Palau - Papua New Guinea - Pitcairn Island - Samoa - Solomon Island - Tokelau - Tonga - Tuvalu - Vanuatu - Wallis and Futuna Further Reading |
|