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325:. These small outer islands are both physically and culturally distinct from the rest of Palau. The islands are miniature platforms of raised reef composed of coralline limestone. The islands have sandy soils covered with atoll-like vegetation. Tochobei Island is low with a depressed, swampy interior. At least a part of the depression is the result of
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shoal. The only island of the reef, it is located near its northern tip. It is tiny in comparison to Helen Reef, about 20 to 40 m wide and 400 m long, or about 0.03 km² of land area. The densely wooded island sits atop a sand dune, which is 0.25 km² in extent and which is moving southeast,
792:
There is little information available on traditional village patterns in the
Southwest Islands. Osborne noted several individual old dwelling places and one concentration of platforms and pathways. There is some information available on traditional fishing practices. The surrounding ocean provided
635:
or
Kodgubi) Island was once the main island of the state (together with the permanently manned Marine Ranger Station on the second island, Helen Island). The land area is 0.85 km². Its highest point is 6 m, while most of the island is less than 3 m high. Most of the houses are situated in the
702:
When the tide is falling, the water flows out of the lagoon and over the reef in all directions until the reef is uncovered, and then flows out through the channel on the western side. On the rising tide, a reverse effect is noted. Only few parts of the reef completely dry.
698:
area of 103 km² and a total area including reef flat of 163 km². A channel leads into the lagoon from near the middle of the western side of the reef. Immediately south of the channel is Round Rock, which dries. The lagoon has about 85 patch and pinnacle Reefs.
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the primary source of protein and was probably intensely exploited prehistorically. Given the limited amount of land, it is expected that almost all of it would have been intensively exploited by settlement or subsistence activities.
805:, more than 1000 km to the northeast and on the other side of Palau. The migration of these people to the Southwest Islands must be one of the truly remarkable events in the prehistory of the Pacific.
724:
station of
Hatohobei State, which was established in the early 1990s on the eastern side of the island, to guard the reef against foreign poachers. The station is permanently occupied by a staff of three.
273:
The state of Tobi, with a population of 25, has an elected chief executive, the governor. The state also has a legislature elected every four years. The state population elects one of the members of the
644:. The island is covered with coconut palms. A cultivated area was situated near the center of the island. The island is fringed by a reef that extends up to 800 m from the shore in the north.
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772:), which appears on some maps and which is referenced as an island in the Hatohobei State constitution and constitutes the southernmost feature of Palau. Its
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The people of the
Southwest Islands and Tochobei (Tobi) share a cultural heritage that shows close ties with peoples of the central
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Island. Even so, the natives retain a strong sense of cultural pride in their heritage and a firm commitment to their islands.
1051:. Anthropology research series / Division of Cultural Affairs, Republic of Palau 2. San Francisco: U.S. National Park Service.
973:. Anthropology research series / Division of Cultural Affairs, Republic of Palau 2. San Francisco: U.S. National Park Service.
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falling into the lagoon, at a rate 3 to 4 m per year. The island is uninhabited except for a marine
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https://palaugov.pw/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2015-Census-of-Population-Housing-Agriculture-.pdf
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production. Today, the islands are largely uninhabited as most of the native population lives in
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is "Sandy
Navigation Point", referring to a submerged sand bar rather than a reef or island.
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palms line the beaches forming the primary resource for the only industry on the islands:
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Satellite picture of Helen Reef with supposed location of
Transit Reef marked with circle
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in the world as well as being the 13th smallest first level administrative subdivision.
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Not only is it Palau’s least populous state, but it is the least populous first-level
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The population of the state was 25 in the 2015 census and median age was 21.5 years.
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The individual islands of
Hatohobei, together with the islands of the state of
882:"2015 Census of Population, Housing and Agriculture for the Republic of Palau"
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223:. The total land area is about 0.88 km². The population was 25 in 2015.
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The population was 80 in 1962, 51 in 1995, 23 in 2000, and 25 in 2015.
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Heimong is the title of the traditional high chief from the state.
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KiteLines FALL 1977 (Vol. 1 No. 3) Articles on Kite
Fishing on Tobi
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Snyder, David.; Adams, William
Hampton; Butler, Brian M. (1997).
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Snyder, David.; Adams, William
Hampton; Butler, Brian M. (1997).
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690:), about 70 km east of Tobi Island, is a largely submerged
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Community Consultations on Marine and Terrestrial Resource Uses
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Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Palau to the UK &NI
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The Pacific Basin: A History of its Geographical Explorations
27:"Helen Reef" redirects here. For the Atlantic islands, see
987:
The American Geographical Society, New York, 1967, p.132.
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Helen Island was discovered by the Spanish naval officer
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Tochobei (Tobi) is located some 450 km southwest of
640:) on the southwestern side of the island, the state
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during the Japanese administration. Large stands of
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945:"State of Hatohobei: About our Flag & History"
262:are the official languages of Hatohobei State.
768:50 km east of Helen Reef is Transit Reef (
235:are the official languages of Hatohobei State.
1048:Archaeology and historic preservation in Palau
970:Archaeology and historic preservation in Palau
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8:
1261:Important Bird Areas of the Caroline Islands
1062:Links to pictures and maps of Tobi and Palau
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904:"Encyclopedia of the Developing World"
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891:. Office of Planning and Statistics.
853:. Palau Conservation Society. 2003.
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918:"State/National Election Schedule"
728:The island has been designated an
25:
1068:Aerial view of the island of Tobi
1024:"Council of Chiefs – PalauGov.pw"
133:0.9 km (0.3 sq mi)
125:0.9 km (0.3 sq mi)
1039: This article incorporates
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167: • Official languages
1004:. BirdLife International. 2021
85:Location of Hatohobei in Palau
1:
1256:Important Bird Areas of Palau
141:0 km (0 sq mi)
1085:Seacology Helen Reef Project
902:Leonard, Thomas M. (2006).
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636:abandoned village of Tobi (
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240:administrative subdivision
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998:"Helen Island, Hatohobei"
922:Palau Election Commission
864:Vitarelli, Margo (1998).
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870:. Belau National Museum.
906:. Taylor & Francis.
1041:public domain material
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736:because it supports a
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686:Helen or Helens Reef (
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162:8.3/km (21/sq mi)
949:www.friendsoftobi.org
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750:greater crested terns
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436:3.00611°N 131.12389°E
788:Traditional villages
621:on Tobi Island, 1971
159: • Density
774:existence as island
730:Important Bird Area
651:Map of Helen Reef (
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1002:BirdLife Data Zone
924:. 5 November 2020.
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590:State of Hatohobei
441:3.00611; 131.12389
151: • Total
138: • Water
122: • Total
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983:Brand, Donald D.
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564:2.783°N 132.533°E
502:2.950°N 131.783°E
383:Population (2015)
359:Southwest Islands
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130: • Land
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1006:. Retrieved
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575:Transit Reef
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463:Helen Reef (
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386:Coordinates
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312:, since 2008
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29:Helen's Reef
1185:Ngarchelong
609:Tobi Island
567: /
505: /
439: /
426:131°07′26″E
357:, form the
306:, 2004-2008
300:, 2000-2004
294:, 1988-2000
288:, 1984-1988
233:Sonsorolese
217:Tobi Island
211:'s sixteen
1235:Categories
1080:Helen Reef
824:References
688:Hotsarihie
682:Helen Reef
653:Hotsarihie
573: (
513:Helen Reef
511: (
465:Hotsarihie
445: (
423:03°00′22″N
361:of Palau.
246:Demography
221:Helen Reef
146:Population
1241:Hatohobei
1160:Hatohobei
1088:Seacology
782:Pieraurou
770:Pieraurou
732:(IBA) by
717:San Felix
638:Hatohobei
633:Hatohobei
593:Hatohobei
531:Pieraurou
399:Hatohobei
373:Satellite
317:Geography
201:Hatohobei
112:Hatohobei
41:Hatohobei
1220:Sonsorol
1205:Ngchesar
1200:Ngatpang
1190:Ngardmau
1180:Ngaraard
1175:Melekeok
1165:Kayangel
1145:Aimeliik
812:See also
554:132°32′E
492:131°47′E
355:Sonsorol
18:Tochobei
1215:Peleliu
1008:2 March
797:Culture
675:rookery
642:capital
602:
551:02°47′N
489:02°57′N
375:picture
349:Islands
331:coconut
260:Palauan
256:English
229:English
175:English
171:Palauan
109:Capital
91:Country
1210:Ngiwal
1155:Angaur
778:Tobian
722:ranger
696:lagoon
631:Tobi (
370:Island
341:or on
323:Angaur
258:, and
252:Tobian
231:, and
225:Tobian
213:states
205:Tobian
190:PW-050
179:Tobian
100:
1170:Koror
1150:Airai
1043:from
885:(PDF)
780:name
746:sooty
692:atoll
380:(km²)
339:Koror
335:copra
209:Palau
199:, or
103:Palau
52:State
1010:2021
748:and
672:Tern
596:0.88
477:0.03
447:Tobi
411:0.85
395:Tobi
378:Area
219:and
197:Tobi
117:Area
69:Flag
44:Tobi
740:of
619:bai
367:No.
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