Kosrae

Kosrae is a volcanic island located in the Caroline Islands archipelago.

It is a state within the Federated States of Micronesia. Kosrae is the smallest state in the federation by land area. It is also the smallest state by population. The island is situated north of the equator. It lies between Guam and the Hawaiian Islands. The main island is traditionally called Ualung. This name means "the high island."

The geography of Kosrae includes the main island and several smaller islets. These islets sit within a fringing reef near the coast. Lelu Island is the most significant of these nearshore islands. It has a land area of only 2 km². Despite its small size, Lelu Island is home to about 1,500 people. Mount Finkol is the highest point on the island. The state capital is Tofol, located in the Lelu municipality. The island's total land area is approximately 109.65 km².

Kosrae's landscape features diverse ecosystems and marine life. The island is surrounded by coral reefs in pristine condition. These reefs are protected by an extensive mooring buoy system. This system is maintained by the government and local dive operators. The reefs contain miles of hard corals. Some of these corals are thousands of years old. Visitors come to the island for scuba diving and hiking. The island also has an extensive mangrove system. People enjoy stand up paddle-boarding through these waters.

Ancient history is visible in the ruins of the island. Archaeological evidence shows settlement by the early first millennium AD. The city of Leluh was a major center from 1250 to 1850 AD. At its peak, Leluh had a population of about 1,500 people. The city covered an area of roughly 0.5 km². It featured burial pyramids built for the nobility. This reflects a highly stratified society. In this system, nobles controlled land worked by commoners.

Western contact changed the course of Kosraean history. The Spanish navigator Álvaro de Saavedra first sighted the island in 1529. In 1824, a French ship called La Coquille arrived at Okat Harbor. The ship was commanded by Louis-Isidore Duperrey. During this visit, crew members walked across the island. Later, the island saw the arrival of missionaries. Congregationalists established the first missionary post in 1852. By the 1870s, most of the population had converted to Christianity.

Many different nations have governed Kosrae over the years. Spain held nominal sovereignty starting in 1668. However, they did not effectively occupy the island until 1885. Following the Spanish-American War, Germany purchased the Caroline Islands for 25 million pesetas. Japan took control of the islands during World War I. During World War II, the Japanese fortified the island. A garrison of 3,811 soldiers and 700 sailors was stationed there. They dug tunnel bunkers into the interior peaks. These tunnels can still be explored today. In 1945, the United States took administration of the island.

Modern Kosrae is a democratic state with a unique political structure. It is one of the four states in the Federated States of Micronesia. The state is led by a governor. It also has a unicameral legislature. The official language is Kosraean, but English has equal authority. The U.S. dollar is the official currency. The government is now the largest employer on the island. Traditionally, people relied on fishing and farming. They grew staple foods like breadfruit, taro, and yam. Today, the economy also relies on tourism and imports.