The only country located in all four hemispheres
Story by Stars Insider
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The only country in all four hemispheres©Shutterstock
When people think of civilization, their minds often conjure images of cities and vast landscapes that form part of entire countries and territories. But one lesser-known nation goes against this convention: the Republic of Kiribati. This unique place stands as a testament to culture and what it takes to live while surrounded by the vast expanse of the ocean.
Intrigued? Click through this gallery and join us as we take a closer look at this cultural, environmental, and historical paradise.
Geography©Shutterstock
Kiribati is an island nation in the central Pacific Ocean, consisting of 33 atolls (ring-shaped islands) and reef islands that are spread over 1.4 million sq miles (3.5 million sq km) of ocean. Only about 130,000 people live in Kiribati.
A small space©Shutterstock
Despite its vast maritime area, Kiribati’s total land area is only about 313 sq miles (811 sq km), which makes it one of the smallest countries in the world.
Creation©Shutterstock
The islands were created by volcanic activity millions of years ago. As dozens of volcanoes erupted in the ocean, deposits of ash and magma cooled and created the general shape of the islands. But time caused the volcanoes to collapse inward and sink beneath sea level, while coral continued to grow upward. This is what created the unique ring shape of the atolls.
Location©Shutterstock
The country’s islands are divided into three groups: the Gilbert Islands, the Line Islands, and the Phoenix Islands. All of the atolls are spread out over the area where the equator and the International Date Line meet, making it the only country in the world that exists in all four hemispheres.
Gilbert Islands©Getty Images
These islands make up most of the nation of Kiribati. Indeed, the country’s capital city of Tarawa is located on one of the atolls in this group, where more than 50% of the nation’s population resides.
Line Islands©Getty Images
The Line Islands are made up of 11 atolls, but only eight of them belong to Kiribati. The remaining three are territories of the United States. Interestingly, there is a 12th unconfirmed atoll that is shown on some maps, but the existence of the island is heavily disputed.
Phoenix Islands©Getty Images
Also known as Rawaki, the Phoenix Islands consist of eight atolls that lie west of the Line Islands and east of the Gilbert Islands. All but one of the atolls in this group are actually uninhabited and form part of the third largest marine protected area in the world.
International Date Line©Shutterstock
The International Date Line–which is the line that divides the western and eastern hemispheres, and also separates one calendar day from the next–used to cut the nation of Kiribati in half. This changed in 1995, when the country unilaterally moved the line far to the east, which is why the line in this area has such a strange shape!
Earliest history©Public Domain
Records show that the islands were once occupied by Austronesian people sometime around 3000 BCE. The islands were a central location for many voyagers from Samoa and Fiji, which resulted in a mixing of cultures.
Free from dependence©Public Domain
Kiribati used to be a colony of the United Kingdom before it gained independence on July 12, 1979. Before independence, it was known as the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony, the flag of which is pictured here.
Language©Shutterstock
The official languages of Kiribati are Gilbertese (also known as I-Kiribati) and English. Gilbertese is widely spoken as the local dialect, while English is used in government and education.
Agriculture©Shutterstock
Much of Kiribati’s population lives off the economic value of subsistence farming and fishing. Although the islands contain coconut and breadfruit trees, agriculture faces significant challenges due to poor soil quality and limited freshwater.
Fishing©Getty Images
Traditional fishing techniques on the islands use canoes and nets, but recent years have seen residents of Kiribati turn to more modern methods. Fish is a staple in the diet and a key part of the nation’s economy.
Currency©Shutterstock
The Republic of Kiribati is considered one of the least developed countries in the world, owing to its size and limited resources. The country’s official currency is the Australian dollar (AUD), which has been in use since 1943.