Ichiro Takahashi JH7IPR, will be active again as T88UW from Koror Island, IOTA OC - 009, Palau, 16 - 23 April 2025.
He will operate on 160 - 6m CW, SSB, RTTY, FT8, JT9, JT65, AM.
Recent DX Spots T88UW
T88UW Log search QSL via home call, LOTW, ClubLog OQRS.
Ads for direct QSL:
ICHIRO (ICHY) TAKAHASHI, JH7IPR, LOFTY HARUKI A-1306, 10-2, NAKASUGA-HIGASHI, BEPPU-CITY, 874-0917, Japan.
Koror Island
An island of mixed ancestry
The tiny state of Palau, lost in the far reaches of the Pacific Ocean, is located on a small and very picturesque archipelago consisting of several islands. One of them is Koror, where the city of the same name is located, which until recently served as the capital of the country.
Koror Island itself is very small, and its total area is about 9 square kilometers. Geologists say that it is of mixed origin: partly volcanic and partly coral. If statistics are to be believed, Koror is now home to 12,606 people, so its population density is quite high. Although Koror ceased to be the capital of Palau in 2006, it still plays an important administrative role for the island nation, as it still has some government offices.
Some information from the history of Koror Island
Researchers have not yet been able to establish to whom exactly among European navigators the palm of superiority in the discovery of this island belongs: in the chronicles of voyages that have survived to our days, no information about it has been preserved. As for the settlement of Koror, it took place in the III millennium BC, when there, as established by scientists, based on the results of archaeological excavations, arrived representatives of Filipino tribes.
The first inhabitants of the island were engaged in their usual activities, i.e. fishing and farming, and did not have conflicts with neighbors. It is reliably known that the Spanish visited Koror already at the end of the XVIII century, but they did not add them to the possessions of their country. At about the same time, a ship was nearly wrecked near the island. At the request of its captain, the local chief provided men to help repair the ship. After the repairs were completed, he sent one of his sons to England to study on it. This was the beginning of the island developing fairly close trade ties with Great Britain.
However, in 1886 Koror, like the other Palauan islands, became a Spanish colony. It did not belong to it for long, as it was sold to Germany in 1889. A little later, in 1914, Koror was seized by Japan, which used it as a military base that existed practically until the end of World War II. At the end of the Second World War, Palau was placed under the custody of the United States of America by a decision of the United Nations. In the early 90s of the last century this island state acquired the status of association with the USA, which was supported by the overwhelming majority of its inhabitants in a national referendum. It is really profitable for them, because the state budget of Palau consists to a large extent of American subsidies, and the military security of the country is also guaranteed by the United States.
Koror Island: geographical, climatic and natural data
Koror is a flat island, which nevertheless has a few uplands. Most of its coastal area is covered with mangroves and the central areas are covered with tropical forests, which are rich in both flora and fauna. There are some very beautiful coral reefs near Koror, with a wide variety of inhabitants (including small sharks, rays and even tuna). As for the climate of this island, it is marine tropical, and the air temperature there throughout the year is about +27 °С - +28 °С.
What makes Koror Island particularly interesting?
During World War II, there were fierce naval battles near Koror, at a place called “Jack C. Plain”, which resulted in the sinking of several Japanese and American ships. In addition, a seaplane was shot down there, which then fell into the sea and was perfectly preserved. Divers from all over the world come to Koror for the many interesting dives in its vicinity. In addition, on this island there is the National Museum of Palau, famous far beyond the borders of this state for its very interesting expositions.
