Yaren District

Yaren, on the southern coast of Nauru, serves as the de facto capital of the tiny island republic, one of the smallest nations on earth, for the country has no official capital city. This small coastal district is home to the modest parliament house, government offices and the island's international airport, whose single runway runs beside the sea. Like much of Nauru, Yaren is dotted with the rusting relics of the Second World War, guns, bunkers and defences that speak to the island's strategic past, silent amid the everyday life of the community. Fronting the Pacific and backed by the island's rugged coral interior, Yaren offers a glimpse of the workings and daily rhythms of one of the world's least-visited and most unusual nations.

History

The district was created in 1968, and its original name, Makwa or Moqua, refers to Moqua Well, the underground lake that was the islanders' main source of drinking water (Wikipedia, Yaren).

What you'll find

• The parliament - the modest seat of government.
• The wartime relics - the rusting guns and bunkers.
• The airport by the sea - the runway running beside the Pacific.
• The coastal district - the everyday life of the capital area.

When to go

April to October, the drier season, brings the most pleasant weather for exploring the district and coast, avoiding the wetter months; the equatorial climate is warm year-round. The mild dry months suit wandering the coastal area and its relics.

Good to know

Yaren is a small, modest coastal district rather than a grand capital, its interest lying in its role, wartime relics and glimpse of everyday Nauruan life more than notable sights, and the nation is one of the least-visited on earth. As the de facto heart of tiny Nauru, home to its parliament and dotted with atmospheric wartime relics by the Pacific, though, Yaren is a genuine window on an unusual nation.

Nearby

Anibare Bay, Buada Lagoon and Command Ridge lie across the small island.

Key facts