31st January: Nauru Independence day

Nauru Independence Day - 10 things you didn't know about one of the world's smallest countries:

1. Nauru is the world's smallest island nation in terms of area, covering just 21 km²/8 Square Miles. In terms of population, it's the second smallest (9,378 in 2011), with only Vatican City being smaller. It has the smallest population of any member of the United Nations.
2. The name is thought to derive from the Nauruan word Anáoero, which means "I go to the beach". British sea captain John Fearn, the first Westerner to visit Nauru in 1798, called it "Pleasant Island".
3. The official language is Nauruan, which is unlike any other language spoken on Pacific islands, which makes it hard to determine where the population originally came from.
4. It is the only republican state in the world which does not have an official capital, although the district of Yaren is considered the de facto capital, because that is where the government offices are.
5. It doesn't have a sea port, because it is surrounded by a coral reef. The reef has some channels through it, but they are only accessible to small boats.
6. There is an airport, with just one airline operating from it, "Our Airline." The runway crosses the main road around the island - the only traffic lights on the entire island are here, to stop the traffic so the planes can cross the road.
7. There is no daily newspaper in Nauru, only a fortnightly one called Mwinen Ko.
8. 97 percent of men and 93 percent of women are overweight or obese, making Nauru one of the most obese nations in the world.
9. Nauru's motto is ‘God’s Will First’. Most of the population are Christians.
10. The national flag includes a twelve pointed star, which represents the twelve traditional clans or tribes which traditionally lived there.