South Tarawa

South Tarawa is in Kiribati.

It is a string of small islands. The islands sit near a lagoon. They also sit by the big ocean.

The land is very low. Most of it is near the sea. Wind helps build the land from the lagoon.

Many people live here. It is a busy place. It has a port and an airport. Most of the government is there too.

The weather is warm and wet. It can be very hot. Sometimes there is not much rain. This can make it hard to find fresh water.

People also catch fish for food. It is a very special place to see.

South Tarawa is the capital of Kiribati.

It sits on the Tarawa Atoll. An atoll is a ring of islands around a lagoon. South Tarawa is a string of small islets. They sit between the Tarawa Lagoon and the Pacific Ocean.

The land is very low. Most of it is less than 3 meters above the sea. This makes the islands face risks from floods. The weather is warm and wet all year. But rain can be hard to predict. Sometimes there is very little rain for many months. This makes it hard to find fresh water. People must use water from deep under the ground.

Many people live here. More than half of the people in Kiribati live in South Tarawa. It is a busy place with many houses close together. It is the main hub for the country. It has the main port and the airport.

Most of the government and schools are here too. People also catch fish to sell and to eat.

South Tarawa is the busy capital of the Republic of Kiribati.

It is a string of small islets on the Tarawa Atoll. These islands sit between the Tarawa Lagoon to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The land was built from sediments from the lagoon. Most of the land is very low, often less than 3 metres above the sea.

The islets are now joined together by causeways to form one long settlement. This makes it a central hub for the whole country.

Life in South Tarawa is shaped by the ocean and the weather. The climate is a tropical rainforest type, which means it is warm and humid all year. Rainfall is usually high, but it can be very hard to predict. During El Niño or La Niña cycles, the rain patterns change significantly. This makes finding fresh water a very hard job. People often rely on a shallow freshwater lens under the coral rock. This water is stored in reserves at Bonriki and Buota to help the people.

History has played a big role in how South Tarawa became important. Before 1895, life here was similar to other islands in the region. In 1895, it was chosen as the seat of colonial government. Later, the headquarters moved to Ocean Island and then to Funafuti. It finally returned to Tarawa in 1946. The area of Betio was even the location of the Battle of Tarawa. Since Kiribati became independent in 1979, the area has changed a lot.

Today, South Tarawa is a very crowded place. In 1978, there were only 17,921 people living there. By 2020, the population grew to 63,439 people. This growth makes the area feel very full. The density of people is almost as high as in London. Because space is limited, many families live in large groups on small plots. Most of the government, schools, and hospitals are located in this busy area.

The economy relies heavily on the sea and trade. Fishing is essential for families to eat and to sell. At the port in Betio, people process copra to make oil for other countries.

There is also a plant that processes tuna for export. Many people also work for the government to support their families. This mix of fishing and trade keeps the capital running.

South Tarawa is the capital and central hub of the Republic of Kiribati.

It serves as the nation's primary center for government, commerce, and education. The area is a string of small islets located on the Tarawa Atoll. These islets sit between the Tarawa Lagoon to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The lagoon reaches a maximum depth of 20 meters. In contrast, the Pacific Ocean to the south can reach depths of up to 3,000 meters.

The physical land of South Tarawa was formed by sediments from the lagoon. This process of soil accumulation is driven by dominant easterly trade winds. However, this process can be reversed during extended periods of westerly winds. These shifts often occur during El Niño–Southern Oscillations. Today, the various islets are connected by causeways. These structures create one long, continuous islet along the southern side of the lagoon. Most of the land is extremely low. It sits less than 3 meters above sea level, with an average width of only 400 meters.

The climate in South Tarawa is classified as a Tropical rainforest climate. This means the environment remains warm and humid throughout the entire year. While average rainfall is relatively high, the patterns are very unpredictable. Rainfall varies significantly with the El Niño–Southern Oscillation. During La Niña cycles, South Tarawa can experience many months with almost no rain. The temperature range is one of the narrowest in the world. The highest recorded temperature was 32°C, while the lowest was 22°C.

Water resources are very limited for the growing population. During frequent droughts, residents must rely on a shallow freshwater lens. This lens of fresh water permeates the coral rock of the atoll. The water lenses at Bonriki and Buota are designated as official water reserves. Together, they have a sustainable yield of 1,300 cubic meters per day. This water is distributed to households through a reticulated network. However, the network is in poor condition. Because of supply limits, water is often only available to villages for about 2 hours every two days.

South Tarawa has a complex administrative structure. In 1972, John Hilary Smith created two administrative subdivisions. One is the Betio Town Council, which covers the area from Bairiki to Tanaea. The other is the Teinainano Urban Council. The area of Buota is part of North Tarawa but is linked to South Tarawa by road. Buota is administered by the Eutan Tarawa Council. This area is currently experiencing rapid urbanization and environmental degradation similar to South Tarawa.

The history of the region is tied to colonial shifts. Tarawa is central to Kiribati mythology and culture. In 1895, it was selected as the seat of colonial government for the Protectorate of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands. Between 1906 and 1942, Ocean Island served as the colony's headquarters. Later, the headquarters moved to Funafuti due to the Japanese occupation of the Gilbert Islands. The administration finally returned to Tarawa in 1946. The islet of Betio was also the site of the historic Battle of Tarawa.

Population growth has changed the landscape significantly. In the 1978 Census, South Tarawa had 17,921 residents. Since Kiribati gained independence in 1979, the population has more than tripled. By 2020, the population reached 63,439 people. The area is now fully urbanized from Tanaea in the northeast to Betio in the southwest. The official land area is 15.76 square kilometers. However, much of this is unavailable for living, such as the runway and water reserves. When excluding these areas, the usable land is just over 1,000 hectares. This results in a density of 49 people per hectare. This density is nearly equal to London and twice that of Sydney or Auckland.

The economy is centered on trade and the ocean. Fishing is essential for both family consumption and commercial sale. The port at Betio is a major economic hub.

At this port, copra from outer islands is processed into copra oil for international markets. There is also a plant that processes tuna for export. Despite these industries, many residents rely on government employment or money sent from relatives overseas. Unemployment remains a serious challenge, particularly for young people.