Palau Islands

Palau Islands (Belau), independent group of coral and volcanic islands in the western Pacific Ocean. Of the nearly 200 islands totaling 196 sq mi (508 sq km) in area, only 8 are inhabited. Babelthaup is the largest; Koror is the capital. The small population lives on subsistence farming and fishing. The islands were under Spanish control for several hundred years before being sold to Germany (1899). Japan seized them during World War I, and the United States took them over during World War II. A UN trust territory 1947–87, they became self-governing in 1981 and remained under U.S. administration until 1994 when they became independent.