Kiribati Islands

Kiribati (pronounced Kiri-bass) is an island nation in the central Pacific Ocean. The permanent population is around 100,000, more than half of whom live on Tarawa Atoll. Kiribati's 33 atolls, with a total area of only 811 km², are scattered over an area of 3.5 million km². Kiribati became independent from the United Kingdom in 1979. The capital and now most populated area, South Tarawa, consists of a number of islets, connected by a series of causeways. Kiribati has some beautiful beach scenery, is a great place for boating or yachting and many of the atolls are lovely to explore. The lagoons are stunning to look at and the white sandy beaches are a typical holiday brochure sight. Kiribati has few tourists, and they have to be prepared to "rough it." Most tourists, especially from the USA, go to Kiritimati (Christmas Island). It received some attention on 1 January 2000 as the first location in the world to experience the new millennium. Conditions there are somewhat better than in the rest of Kiribati.

Kiribati is one of the countries threatened by global warming.