South Tarawa

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South Tarawa
06 Map of South Tarawa, Kiribati.jpg
Map of South Tarawa
GilbertIslandsPos.png
Geography
Location Pacific Ocean
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Archipelago Gilbert Islands
Area Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
Highest elevation 3 m (10 ft)
Country
Demographics
Population 50,182[1] (as of 2010 Census)
Density 3,184 /km2 (8,247 /sq mi)
Ethnic groups I-Kiribati 98.9%

South Tarawa (in Gilbertese Tarawa Teinainano) is the capital and hub of the Republic of Kiribati and home to approximately half of Kiribati's total population.[2] The South Tarawa population center consists of all the small islets from Betio in the West to Bonriki in the East, connected by the South Tarawa main road; with a population of 50,182 as of 2010.[1]

South Tarawa is home to most of the Government, commercial and education facilities in Kiribati including the Port and the High Court at Betio, the State House, Government Ministries and foreign High Commissions in Bairiki, a University of the South Pacific campus in Teaorereke, the House of Assembly in Ambo, the Kiribati Teacher College and King George V and Elaine Bernachi School, the Government High School, is in Bikenibeu,[3] and the central hospital in Nawerewere. The Roman Catholic diocese is based in Teaorereke, the Kiribati Protestant Church (Congregational) in Antebuka, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Eita.[4]

Administration

At the local government level, South Tarawa has two administrative subdivisions:

  • Betio Town Council (or BTC), on Betio;
  • Teinainano Urban Council (or TUC), from Bairiki to Tanaea (The meaning of Teinainano is "down of the mast", alluding to the sail-shape of the atoll).

Buota, which is part of North Tarawa and administered by the Eutan Tarawa Council (or ETC), is linked by road to South Tarawa and is experiencing many similar issues of rapid population growth, urbanisation and environmental degradation.

Geography

South Tarawa is a narrow strip of land between the lagoon and the ocean

South Tarawa is a string of islets between the Tarawa Lagoon to the north, with a maximum depth of 25 metres (82 ft), and the Pacific ocean to the south, with a depth of up to 4,000 metres (13,000 ft).[5] The island has been built from sediments from the lagoon.[6] The process of soil accumulation is driven by the dominant easterly trade winds, and can be reversed during extended periods of westerly winds during El Niño–Southern Oscillations.[7] All of these islets are now joined by causeways, forming one long islet on the reef along the southern side of the Tarawa Lagoon. Most of South Tarawa is less than 3 meters above sea level with an average width of only 450 meters.[4]

Population

Children in Bairiki Square, Tarawa, Kiribati
Loading copra at Betio port, South Tarawa

At the time of the 1978 Census, South Tarawa had a population of 17,921 with most residents living in the main population centres of Betio, Bairiki and Bikenibeu. Since Kiribati became independent in 1979, the population of South Tarawa has almost tripled, and now stands at 50,182 people.[1] All of South Tarawa is now urbanised, and is effectively one continuous settlement from the Northeastern end of the island, Tanaea, to its Southwestern end at Betio. Buota in North Tarawa is also connected to the South Tarawa main road and is also growing rapidly.

South Tarawa: Places and population
Census area 1978[8] 2005[9] 2010[1]
Tanaea 27 91 279
Bonriki 635 2,119 2,355
Temwaiku – 2,011 3,135
Causeway (Nawerewere) – 1,780 2,054
Bikenibeu 3,971 6,170 6,568
Abarao 322 908 1,665
Eita 612 2,299 3,061
Tangintebu 128 94 89
Taborio 187 955 1,282
Ambo – 1,688 2,200
Banraeaba 501 1,789 1,969
Antebuka 504 390 1,087
Teaoraereke 848 3,939 4,171
Nanikai 604 803 988
Bairiki 1,956 2,766 3,524
Betio 7,626 12,509 15,755
South Tarawa total 17,921 40,311 50,182

History

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Main article: Tarawa § History

Tarawa island is central to Kiribati mythology and culture, but life on South Tarawa was little different to on other islands before the island was selected as the seat of colonial government for the Protectorate of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands.

Betio was the location of the Battle of Tarawa.

Environment

Impacts of coastal erosion and drought on coconut palms in Eita, South Tarawa
Households on South Tarawa do not have the option to retreat from coastal erosion, as the atoll is narrow and already crowded.

The highest point on South Tarawa is only a few meters above sea level, making the island extremely vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters. Already the effects of rising sea-levels and associated soil salination are starting to threaten limited fresh water supplies.[10]

Climate

The weather in South Tarawa is warm and humid all year round and average rainfalls are relatively high. However rainfall is very unpredictable, varying with the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, and South Tarawa can go for many months with almost no rain during La Nina cycles.

Climate data for Bairiki
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 31.1
(88.0)		 31.2
(88.2)		 31.3
(88.3)		 31.4
(88.6)		 31.4
(88.5)		 31.5
(88.7)		 31.6
(88.9)		 31.6
(88.8)		 31.4
(88.6)		 31.8
(89.2)		 31.7
(89.1)		 31.5
(88.7)		 31.46
(88.63)
Average low °C (°F) 24.5
(76.1)		 25
(77.0)		 25.3
(77.5)		 25.4
(77.7)		 25.7
(78.2)		 25.5
(77.9)		 25.6
(78.1)		 25.7
(78.2)		 25.7
(78.3)		 25.5
(77.9)		 25.4
(77.7)		 25.1
(77.2)		 25.37
(77.65)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 272
(10.7)		 201
(7.9)		 188
(7.4)		 183
(7.2)		 163
(6.4)		 137
(5.4)		 157
(6.2)		 122
(4.8)		 89
(3.5)		 89
(3.5)		 100
(4)		 200
(8)		 1,901
(75)
Source: World Weather Online [11]

Water

South Tarawa has very limited water resources for its rapidly growing population. During the frequent droughts, the only source of water is the shallow freshwater lens which permeates the coral rock of the atoll. The water lenses at Bonriki and Buota have been declared as water reserves, and have a combined sustainable yield of 1,300 m3 per day. Other previously declared water reserves have been relinquished for urbanisation, or abandoned due to over-pumping and pollution from human settlement.[12]

Water from the Bonriki and Buota reserves is distributed via a reticulated network to South Tarawa households, however the poor condition of the network and the limited water supply mean that water can only be supplied to each village for around 2 hours every two days. Most schools and community buildings have no water supply at all, and many households rely on polluted groundwater due to the shortage of treated water.[13]

Because of the shortage of fresh water, sanitation systems must use saltwater for flushing. The current sanitation network on South Tarawa is performing very poorly, and a major project is underway to rehabilitate the system and improve sanitation and public hygiene.[14]

Coastal erosion

The Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agriculture Development (MELAD) is involved in the replanting of mangroves in selected sites to help against coastal erosion; however, a lot more is required to protect many of the sites already eroded away on South Tarawa including islets that once were protected with mangrove and iron-wood (tengea) trees. It is unclear how much of the erosion currently being experienced on South Tarawa is due to sea level rise and how much is due to human activities, such as building inappropriate seawalls, and mining sand and gravel from the beaches and foreshores. However coastal erosion will accelerate in future, due to climate change related sea level rise.[4]

Land availability and overcrowding

The land area of South Tarawa is officially recorded as 3,896 acres, 1,576 hectares or 15.76 square km. However much of this land is not available for use, including the water reserve and runway, the causeways, and a large area of reclaimed land at Temwaiku, the Eastern corner of the atoll, which is too swampy and low-lying. If these areas are excluded, the land area of South Tarawa is only just over 1,000 hectares (10 square km or 2,500 acres) and the population density of 49 people per hectare or 4,905 per square km is almost equal to the density of London (5,100 people per km2) and twice the density of Sydney, Auckland or New York.[15]

Multi-storey buildings are very uncommon on South Tarawa. The high population is accommodated through large household sizes, with an average of 7.3 people per household, on small land plots. Most land is owned by the original families or kain Tarawa, although in the main centres of Betio, Bairiki and Bikenibeu there are large areas of land on long term lease to the Government. Without access to family lands or Government housing, many South Tarawa residents have no choice but to become squatters, and disputes over land are common.

South Tarawa and especially Betio have high rates of respiratory infections, diarrhoea, and dysentery,[4] all of which have been linked to overcrowding.[16] Unsustainable development in South Tarawa is a concern to the Government and to Kiribati's aid partners.[17] Anote Tong's administration aims to ease the problem in the country's main urban center by encouraging people to stay and to resettle in outer islands, and has invested in facilities such as the South Kiribati Hospital to spread institutions and services out around the islands and relieve South Tarawa from overcrowding.[18]

South Tarawa: Population and Land Area
Census Area Population 2010[1] Land area available[1] Land area, not available for residential, commercial or government use[1] Density, people per hectare
Tanaea 279 9 hectares (22 acres) - 31
Bonriki 2355 70 hectares (173 acres) 139 hectares (343 acres)1 34
Temwaiku 3135 161 hectares (398 acres) 383 hectares (946 acres)2 19
Causeway/Nawerewere 2054
Bikenibeu 6568 181 hectares (447 acres) - 36
Abarao 1665 58 hectares (143 acres) - 29
Eita 3061 104 hectares (257 acres) 9 hectares (22 acres)3 29
Tangintebu 89
Taborio 1282
Ambo 2200 141 hectares (348 acres) - 16
Banraeaba 1969
Antebuka 1087
Teaoraereke 4171 87 hectares (215 acres) 4.2 hectares (10 acres)4 48
Nanikai 988 12 hectares (30 acres) - 82
Bairiki 3524 46 hectares (114 acres) 5.0 hectares (12 acres)5 77
Betio-Bairiki causeway not included
Betio 15755 154 hectares (381 acres) 13.7 hectares (34 acres)6 102
South Tarawa total 50182 1,023 hectares (2,528 acres) 553 hectares (1,366 acres) 49

Reasons land not available for use:

  1. Bonriki; Water reserve, airport
  2. Temwaiku; Reclamation and fish ponds
  3. Eita/Taborio; Abairarang (scout) Is.Abaokoro (Guide) Is. and Taborio Causeway
  4. Teaoraereke; Causeway
  5. Naanekai-Bairiki causeway, Bairiki wharf and jetty
  6. Betio; Sandspit, wharves, jetties

Economy

Fishing for family consumption and for sale is essential to the economy of South Tarawa

South Tarawa is the economic hub of Kiribati, the location of the main port and airport and of most of the State Owned Enterprises and private businesses. Copra produced on the outer islands is processed on Betio, producing copra oil for the international market and other products which are sold locally. There is also a fish processing plant producing tuna for export. However imports far outweigh exports, and most households on South Tarawa rely on Government employment and remittances from relatives working overseas for their income. Unemployment and under-employment are a serious problem; in 2010 only 34% of urban adults (over 15) were engaged in cash work; the remaining two thirds are either out of the labour force, unemployed or engaged in subsistence activities. Young people are especially likely to be unemployed.

Visiting South Tarawa

Transport

Fiji Airways flies to Bonriki International Airport on South Tarawa twice a week from Nadi, on Mondays and Thursdays.

Accommodation

There is a range of accommodation available for visitors and for those working short term in South Tarawa, and details are available from Tourism Kiribati.[19]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "census" defined multiple times with different content
  2. ↑ Country files at earth-info.nga.mil
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Martin 2000, p. 152.
  6. ↑ Schofield 1977, p. 533.
  7. ↑ Chaoxiong 2001, p. 6.
  8. ↑ Report of the 1978 Census of population and housing. Republic of Kiribati 1980, Vol. 1, S. 6–7
  9. ↑ Kiribati 2005 census of population and housing.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Retrieved on November 24, 2011.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

  • Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons
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