South Tarawa
Encyclopedia
South Tarawa is the official capital of the Republic of Kiribati
on Tarawa Atoll. The meaning of Teinainano is "down of the mast", alluding to the sail-shape of the atoll. As of 2005 its population was of 40,311.
on the east. All of several once separate islets are joined by causeways, forming one long islet on the reef along the southern side of the Tarawa Lagoon. There is also a relatively new causeway—the Japanese Causeway—that links South Tarawa to Betio
, out of South Tarawa.
There is a Kiribati Teacher College and a University of the South Pacific
campus on South Tarawa. Bairiki is sometimes considered the capital of Kiribati because at one time both the Parliament and the Presidency (and main administrative offices) were located there. The Parliament meets on Ambo islet; various ministries are scattered between South Tarawa, Betio
and Christmas Island
(ministry of the Line and Phoenix islands).
The Roman Catholic diocese and the Kiribati Protestant Church
(Congregational) are situated on South Tarawa.
. Its territory includes 16 villages: Bairiki (executive), Ambo (legislative), Betio (judicial) are the main political centres of the capital.
. One of three post offices on Tarawa is located at Bairiki. Bairiki Islet is the most southern islet on the atoll of Tarawa. About nine islets (of some 23 others on Tarawa) are larger than Bairiki.
Bairiki includes the main administrative center of the Republic of Kiribati
(presidency and most of the ministries), but the Parliament has since moved to Ambo, halfway between Bairiki and Bonriki. In the village there is a small port (the main port for Tarawa is on Betio Islet) and near Bairiki is a campus belonging to the University of the South Pacific
.
Kiribati
Kiribati , officially the Republic of Kiribati, is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean. The permanent population exceeds just over 100,000 , and is composed of 32 atolls and one raised coral island, dispersed over 3.5 million square kilometres, straddling the...
on Tarawa Atoll. The meaning of Teinainano is "down of the mast", alluding to the sail-shape of the atoll. As of 2005 its population was of 40,311.
Overview
The South Tarawa population center consists of all the small islets between Bairiki (on the west) to Temaiku/BonrikiBonriki
Bonriki is a settlement on the island of Tarawa, Kiribati, part of the municipality of South Tarawa. Bonriki International Airport, the only international airport in Kiribati is located here....
on the east. All of several once separate islets are joined by causeways, forming one long islet on the reef along the southern side of the Tarawa Lagoon. There is also a relatively new causeway—the Japanese Causeway—that links South Tarawa to Betio
Betio
Betio is an island and a town at the extreme southwest of South Tarawa in Kiribati. The main port of Tarawa Atoll is located there.-Overview:...
, out of South Tarawa.
There is a Kiribati Teacher College and a University of the South Pacific
University of the South Pacific
The University of the South Pacific is a public university with a number of locations spread throughout a dozen countries in Oceania. It is an international centre for teaching and research on Pacific culture and environment. USP's academic programmes are recognised worldwide, attracting students...
campus on South Tarawa. Bairiki is sometimes considered the capital of Kiribati because at one time both the Parliament and the Presidency (and main administrative offices) were located there. The Parliament meets on Ambo islet; various ministries are scattered between South Tarawa, Betio
Betio
Betio is an island and a town at the extreme southwest of South Tarawa in Kiribati. The main port of Tarawa Atoll is located there.-Overview:...
and Christmas Island
Kiritimati
Kiritimati or Christmas Island is a Pacific Ocean raised coral atoll in the northern Line Islands, and part of the Republic of Kiribati....
(ministry of the Line and Phoenix islands).
The Roman Catholic diocese and the Kiribati Protestant Church
Kiribati Protestant Church
The Kiribati Protestant Church is a Congregationalist Protestant Christian denomination in Kiribati...
(Congregational) are situated on South Tarawa.
Composition
South Tarawa is composed by the islets of Bairiki, Betio, Bonriki and by the submerged one of BikermanBikeman Island
Bikeman Island is a submerged islet about a half-hour's canoe ride Southeast of Betio, Kiribati. Due to changing currents and the construction of a causeway between Betio and Bairiki, Bikeman has been submerged since the early 1990s. If one were to stand on Bikeman today, the water would reach up...
. Its territory includes 16 villages: Bairiki (executive), Ambo (legislative), Betio (judicial) are the main political centres of the capital.
| South Tarawa: Places and population | |||
| Census area | Village | 1978 | 2005 |
|---|---|---|---|
| East | Tanaea | 27 | 91 |
| Bonriki Bonriki Bonriki is a settlement on the island of Tarawa, Kiribati, part of the municipality of South Tarawa. Bonriki International Airport, the only international airport in Kiribati is located here.... |
635 | 2,119 | |
| Temwaiku | - | 2,011 | |
| Causeway | - | 1,780 | |
| Bikenibeu Bikenibeu Bikenibeu is a settlement in Kiribati. It is located about two nautical miles from Tarawa.-Landmarks:*Te Umanibong -Cultural Museum... |
3,971 | 6,170 | |
| Abarao | 322 | 908 | |
| Eita Eita, Kiribati Eita is a settlement in Kiribati. It is located on an atoll; Utiroa is to its east and Terikiai to its north; Nuribenua, Tanaiang, and Te Kapuipui are to the west.... |
612 | 2,299 | |
| Tangintebu | 128 | 94 | |
| Taborio | 187 | 955 | |
| West | Ambo | - | 1,688 |
| Banraeaba | 501 | 1,789 | |
| Antebuka | 504 | 390 | |
| New Campus | Teaoraereke | 848 | 3,939 |
| Nanikai | 604 | 803 | |
| Bairiki | 1,956 | 2,766 | |
| Betio | Betio Betio Betio is an island and a town at the extreme southwest of South Tarawa in Kiribati. The main port of Tarawa Atoll is located there.-Overview:... |
7,626 | 12,509 |
| Total | 17,921 | 40,311 | |
Bairiki
Bairiki is a village and an islet now part of South Tarawa, and at one time itself the center of government (and therefore, capital) of KiribatiKiribati
Kiribati , officially the Republic of Kiribati, is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean. The permanent population exceeds just over 100,000 , and is composed of 32 atolls and one raised coral island, dispersed over 3.5 million square kilometres, straddling the...
. One of three post offices on Tarawa is located at Bairiki. Bairiki Islet is the most southern islet on the atoll of Tarawa. About nine islets (of some 23 others on Tarawa) are larger than Bairiki.
Bairiki includes the main administrative center of the Republic of Kiribati
Kiribati
Kiribati , officially the Republic of Kiribati, is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean. The permanent population exceeds just over 100,000 , and is composed of 32 atolls and one raised coral island, dispersed over 3.5 million square kilometres, straddling the...
(presidency and most of the ministries), but the Parliament has since moved to Ambo, halfway between Bairiki and Bonriki. In the village there is a small port (the main port for Tarawa is on Betio Islet) and near Bairiki is a campus belonging to the University of the South Pacific
University of the South Pacific
The University of the South Pacific is a public university with a number of locations spread throughout a dozen countries in Oceania. It is an international centre for teaching and research on Pacific culture and environment. USP's academic programmes are recognised worldwide, attracting students...
.
See also
- Bairiki National StadiumBairiki National StadiumBairiki National Stadium is located in Bairiki, Kiribati. It is the national stadium and the home of Kiribati's national football team. The stadium's capacity is around 2,500....
- Bonriki International AirportBonriki International Airport-See also:* USAAF in the Central Pacific...
- Te UmanibongTe UmanibongTe Umanibong or the Kiribati Cultural Museum is a museum in Bikenibeu on Tarawa in Kiribati. It displays artifacts and other items of cultural and historic significance....
- Ambo DeclarationAmbo DeclarationThe Ambo Declaration was adopted at the Tarawa Climate Change Conference on the 10th November 2010 by Australia, Brazil, China, Cuba, Fiji, Japan, Kiribati, Maldives, Marshall Islands, New Zealand, Solomon Islands and Tonga. The declaration calls for more and immediate action to be undertaken to...
(during Tarawa Climate Change ConferenceTarawa Climate Change ConferenceThe Tarawa Climate Change Conference , was held in the Republic of Kiribati from 9 to 10 November 2010. The purpose of the conference was to support the initiative of the President of Kiribati, Anote Tong, to hold a consultative forum between vulnerable states and their partners with a view of...
)