KIRIBATI
(Pacific Republic of Kiribati)

Capital: Tarawa

Flag: Over the blue and white heraldic image of the Pacific waters the gold sun rises on a red background, with top the gold frigate.

Motto: The three Cain of Kiribati (there Is Kiribati).

MONETARY BLOCK: The Australian dollar is national currency. an of $1 = us of $0.76336 (or us of $1 = $ a 1.31) as of 2005.

WEIGHT AND MEASURES: Kiribati passes from imperial to metric standards.

HOLIDAYS: New year, on January 1; Independence Day, on July 12; Youth Day, on August 4; Christmas, on December 25; Day of gifts, on December 26. Mobile vacation includes Good Friday, Easter Monday, the Birthday of the queen (June), the Holiday of bank (August) and the Birthday of the prince of Wales (November).

TIME: Midnight = midday of GMT.

ARRANGEMENT, SIZE AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Kiribati ("Kiribass" is said) consists of 33 islands in the central part of the Pacific Ocean located around a point where the International line of dates crosses the equator. Scattered more than on 5 million. Sq.km (2 million Quarter. Miles) the ocean are 17 islands of the Hilbert group (including Banaba, earlier Ocean island); islands of 8 lines (including Christmas Island); and 8 Phoenix Island. The distance between Christmas Island in E and Banaba in w makes more than 3200 km (2000 miles). The total area of Kiribati is 811 sq.km (313 quarter. Miles), and its general coastline makes 1 143 km (710 miles). Rather, the space occupied by Kiribati approximately is four times more, than in Washington, the District of Columbia.
The capital of Kiribati, Tarawa, is located on the island of Tarawa.

TOPOGRAPHY

Kiribati consists of three island groups: the Gilbert Islands (on the equator), Phoenix Island (on the East) and islands of the Line (to the north from the equator). The majority of islands - the coral atolls built on a diving volcanic chain. Christmas Island - the biggest atoll in the world, of 606 sq.km (234 quarter. Miles). The highest point of the country - the unnamed point on the island of Banaba reaching peak of 81 m (266 feet). The lowest point - at sea level (Pacific Ocean).

CLIMATE

Tempered as a result of the prevailing east trade winds, islands have sea equatorial climate with high humidity during a rainy season in November-April. Though islands lie out of a tropical belt of hurricanes, storm and even a tornado sometimes appear. Rainfall fluctuates on average from 102 cm (40 inches) about the equator up to 305 cm (120 inches) on Far North and the South. There can be also serious droughts. On average, between cold and hot months the difference makes less than 1%, but daily temperature fluctuates from 25 °C (77 °F) to 32 °C (90 °F) at an average annual temperature of 27 °C (81 °F).

FLORA AND FAUNA

Extreme poverty of the soil and variability of rainfall make impossible cultivation of the majority of cultures. On the majority of islands only baba (some kind of root of Taro), coconut palms and a pandanus easily grow. Pigs and a bird were probably presented by Europeans.