Discover Nauru: Top 10 Fascinating and Surprising Facts About the World's Smallest Island Nation

1. Phosphate Fairy Tale

Once upon a phosphate fairy tale, where the streets were lined with wealth and everyone rode on money-collecting unicorns: Nauru was one of the richest countries on the planet earth due to its abundant phosphate deposits, but alas, their gift eventually ran dry, leading to a sobering decline in the nation's fortune.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Radio Gremlin Conquerors

The folks of Nauru didn't let the radio gremlins stop their transmissions for long: Nauru Media was created in 1991, merging radio and television services by 1998, and introducing the local newspaper Mwinen KO in 2009, which now stands strong at its 55th edition. This media powerhouse even boasts a treasure trove of vintage vinyl records and audio cassettes dating back to their 1968 independence, chronicling their island history in style!
Source => abu.org.my

Discover how bowerbirds upstage Tinderbirds with their amazing fella pads, complete with optical illusions and blue bling to woo their mates. You won't believe their eye for detail!

=> Fun Facts about Australia

3. One Postcode to Rule Them All

In a whirlwind romance only matched by Romeo and Juliet, Nauru and the Universal Postal Union waltzed in tandem to create the ultimate love child – a single postcode for an entire nation: In 2017, Nauru introduced the one-and-only postal code, NRU68, making it the only country in the world to have such a system, thereby streamlining postal service delivery and addressing on this small island.
Source => en.youbianku.com

4. Nauru's WWII Banter Bunker

If the walls on Nauru's Command Ridge could talk, they'd be saying "konnichiwa" and telling war tales with a chuckle: The highest point of Nauru, at 65 meters above sea level, hosts the remnants of a Japanese communications bunker from WWII, complete with rusty guns, artillery, and authentic Japanese writing on the walls, making it a unique historical attraction for those who visit the island nation.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Richie Rich to MC Hammer Saga

In a classic case of "mo' money, mo' problems", the tiny island nation of Nauru went from Richie Rich to MC Hammer in the blink of an eye: Once the world's richest country due to its phosphate resources, Nauru now has over 70% of its land uninhabitable from over-mining and ranks among the top 5 poorest countries. As if their troubles weren't enough, they've been hosting off-shore refugee detention camps in collaboration with the Australian government since 2001, keeping it more exclusive than the most posh clubs with strict rules for journalists and photographers.
Source => youngpioneertours.com

6. Heavyweight Oceanic Champs

In an ocean far, far away, where one might assume the bountiful sea and sandy beaches would spawn a utopia of fit-bodied beachgoers, an unexpected heavyweight reigns supreme: Nauru, a tiny island nation in Oceania, holds the title of the world's highest obesity rate. A sobering 2016 World Obesity Federation report revealed that a staggering 97% of Nauru's adults are overweight or obese, a result of excessive indulgence in processed foods and sugary beverages. To turn the tide, the Nauruan government has been implementing programs promoting physical activity and local farming in hopes of restoring balance to their nutritional force.
Source => worldatlas.com

7. Time-Traveling Seafood Adventure

If you've ever wanted to feel like a time-traveling explorer, savor fresh seafood, and still be in bed by nightfall, Nauru's got you covered: As the world's smallest independent republic, Nauru offers World War II relics, delectable seafood dishes, and the unique experience of hiking around its 25-minute drive-long island perimeter in just 6 hours, all while giving you a front-row seat to the majestic South Pacific.
Source => youngpioneertours.com

8. Linguistic Dodo: The Nauruan Tongue

If you thought "I Am Groot" was a rare language, meet Nauruan, the linguistic equivalent of the dodo: Nauru's native tongue is classified as severely endangered by UNESCO, but fear not, language enthusiasts – a Nauruan Language Council was established in 2006 and measures are being taken to document, research, and preserve this precious piece of Nauruan culture.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

9. Happiest Sailor's Pleasant Island

Ever wonder where the happiest sailors ended up in the 18th century? It wasn't Tahiti or the Bahamas, but a little-known spot named Pleasant Island! Smooth sailing, captain: Nauru, now known as the world's smallest republic, was first discovered by Captain John Fearn in 1798. He was so captivated by its beauty that he dubbed it Pleasant Island—high praise from a seafarer! Fast-forward to 1974, and the memory of Captain Fearn's discovery lives on—immortalized on a Nauruan postage stamp.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

10. The Great Guano Empire

Holy guano, Batman! Nauru's past is one filthy, feathery affair: Once a major phosphate exporter thanks to mountains of bird poop, this tiny island republic saw 80% of its surface strip-mined by the 1960s, leaving behind a rocky wasteland before gaining independence on January 31, 1968.
Source => blogs.loc.gov