About Sonsorol

Sonsorol is one of the remote Southwest Islands of the in the Republic of Palau. It is located about 340 km (213 miles) away from the main archipelago of Palau. The island of Sonsorol is about 2 km long and 900 m wide. It is currently inhabited by about 30 people. At present, the Southwest Islands can only be accessed by boat, and the islands are not regularly visited by commercial vessels. The nearest airport is in Koror, Palau.

Sonsorol Island ("Dongosaro" in the native language) is the largest of four islands in the State of Sonsorol, one of the 16 states of the Republic of Palau. The other islands in Sonsorol State are Pulo Anna (Puro), Meriil (Melieli), and Fanna. They are all small, sandy coral islands. The two states Sonsorol and Hatohobei together constitute the Southwest Islands of Palau. Despite their geographic proximity and political association with Palau, the culture and language of the Southwest Islands are more closely related to those of Chuuk and the Outer Islands of Yap in the Federated States of Micronesia. Although many Southwest Islanders now live on the main islands of Palau or elsewhere around the world, they continue to practice their unique culture and traditions.

The state flag shows a sailing canoe under the constellation of the Southern Cross, paying tribute to the island's rich heritage in canoe building and sailing.

For more information about Sonsorol visit:

www.sonsorol.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonsorol

For more information about the Southwest Islands of Palau visit:

http://friendsoftobi.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southwest_Islands_%28Palau%29

For more information about canoes from the Southwest Islands of Palau visit:

http://www.friendsoftobi.org/tobithings/canoes/canoeparts/isaurocanoeparts.htm

[This page lists the names for all of the parts of a canoe (in Tobian), each illustrated with a photograph and sound file of the pronunciation. The canoe that is shown in the  photographs was made on Sonsorol and can currently be seen in Eang, Palau (near Koror).]