JA6KYU will be active again from Koror Island, IOTA OC-009, Palau, 7 - 15 January 2026 as T88HS.
He will operate on 160 - 6m Digital modes.
Recent DX Spots T88HS
QSL via home call direct.
Ads for direct QSL:
HIROTAKA SUENAGA, P.O.BOX 6, HIZEN-NAKABARU, 849-0191, Japan.
Life and nature in the Republic of Palau
The Republic of Palau is an island nation located in the Pacific Ocean in the Philippine Sea. This territory was formed in the northern part of Indonesia and is located approximately 800 kilometers from the Philippines.
Features of the state of Palau
This republic includes more than 300 island territories located in the submeridional zone (with a length of more than 640 kilometers). The largest islands of the country are of volcanic origin, while the smaller ones are coral islands.
The territory of Palau is predominantly hilly, with the surface rising from the coastal zone towards the central part of the state. An exception is Peleliu Island, which has a flat surface. The highest point in the Republic of Palau is a mountain called Ngarchalchaus, which is 242 meters high.
Since the country is located in the equatorial climate zone, it boasts an abundance of green plants. The soil is highly fertile. Mangrove swamps stretch along the coastal zone. If you cross the coastline, you will see savannahs, as well as numerous coconut groves and pandanus thickets. The slopes of the republic's hills are covered with evergreen tropical plants.
The fauna of Palau is also very diverse. Among the most characteristic animal species found here are crocodiles, highly venomous sea snakes, and the rarest type of mammal, which is classified as an endangered species - the dugong. The republic's bird population includes more than 30 species. The coastal waters of Palau have become home to an incredible number of fish (more than 1,500 species).
Koror Island, Palau. Author - Bhaskar Rao.
Language, government, and religion of Palau
This republic is a presidential state, where the president acts as the head of the executive branch. Palau is a territory with the status of a “freely associated republic” of the United States. In the past, namely in 1978, the country's inhabitants opposed joining the FSM (Federated States of Micronesia), wishing to preserve their independence. Two years later (1980), the republic adopted its constitution, and the Republic of Palau became an independent state, ending its long status as a “trust territory.”
The official languages of the country are English and Palauan. Some regions of the territory have established their own official languages instead of Palauan (namely, the local Tobi, Sonsoral, and Angaur languages).
A large percentage of the Palau population are Protestants and Catholics. In addition, many locals follow the traditional local belief system known as Modeknegi. It is based on the belief in the existence of spirits. There are also Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-day Adventists, and others in the country.
Jellyfish Lake, Koror Island, Palau. Author - Mark Kenworthy.
Climate and nature of Palau
The republic has a tropical climate. The rainy season lasts from May to November. The nature of these places is distinguished by its exotic splendor, but the state has a serious problem—the pollution of coastal areas with various industrial waste. In addition, there is destruction of coral formations and illegal fishing, which poses a serious threat to the marine ecosystem. A special center for the study of coral reefs has been built in one of the cities of the republic. It is here that methods are being sought to protect this unique ecosystem.
One of the most striking natural attractions of the Republic of Palau is Jellyfish Lake. This lake is filled with slightly salty water and, according to biologists, has become home to an incredible number of jellyfish (about 2 million). These inhabitants of the lake are completely harmless, as they do not have the dangerous stinging cells found in ordinary jellyfish. These cells play a protective role, and when attacked or in a defensive reaction, ordinary jellyfish “eject” peculiar capsules filled with a poisonous substance.
Jellyfish Lake, formed in the Republic of Palau, is very old (it appeared about 12,000 years ago). It was created by the process of separation from ocean waters after the movement of the earth's crust.
The coastal waters of Palau are filled with a huge number of all kinds of tropical fish, which attracts poachers. The rarest mammals also live here. According to ecologists, the coast of Palau boasts 130 species of sharks, which are representatives of endangered species.
Palau was recently declared a wonder of the world, but an underwater one. In 1995, this unusual status was assigned to the country by a committee of biologists.
The country has many amazing places, including evergreen forests and gardens. Several species of orchids grow here, and there is an incredible number of exotic flowers. The gardens and forests are filled with colorful birds, representing 50 species.
Interesting facts about Palau
For a long time, this territory was the main source of stone for the creation of special currency on the Yap Islands. The fact is that it was difficult to find suitable material for this purpose in the aforementioned territory. That is why material from the Republic of Palau was used to make “rai” money. Special stones were carefully selected and used in the production process, after which the finished product was transported to Yap by raft. Quite often, people died during the transportation of money, which was very heavy (several tons). Such tragedies increased the value of the stone. In addition, there were situations when the raw material (a special type of stone) sank during transportation. The material lying at the bottom had the same value as the product on land, so it was used in various financial transactions.
