The capital city with only 3 buildings and no residents | World | News
Surrounded by dense forests and rolling hills on a picturesque island in the Pacific Ocean lies a capital city unlike anything else on earth. Ngerulmud stands as the capital of the Micronesian island nation of Palau, but it is not home to crowded streets, houses and residents; It hosts only a single government complex.
Built in 2006 on the site of the former capital of Koror, Ngerulmud on the island of Babeldaob was intended to symbolize Palau’s independence from the United States. But almost two decades later, it remains the only capital city in the world without a population. The only structures in sight are three pale yellow government buildings housing the executive, legislative and judicial branches, connected by wide walkways and empty parking lots. Government workers come from nearby villages in Melekeok province or from Koror, 19 kilometers away. Even Ngerulmud’s post office, which was opened to serve the new seat of power, was closed due to lack of use.
The decision to move the capital inland was ambitious. The project, financed largely by loans from Taiwan, aimed to create a seat of central government closer to the geographical center of the country. However, construction here proved costly, and with no private housing or commercial development, Ngerulmud never attracted permanent residents.
Palau’s small population of just under 20,000 is concentrated in Koror, home to about 70% of residents. The island offers amenities that Ngerulmud does not have, such as access to shops, schools, restaurants and tourism jobs.
The closest thing Ngerulmud has to a resident is its officials and politicians; that is, one president, one vice president, seven ministers, sixteen congressmen and thirteen senators.
The name of the capital refers to a nearby hill where, according to local tradition, women gathered to offer “mud” to the gods. Mud refers to the pygmy angelfish, a type of fish (Centropyge tibicen), is native to the Indo-Pacific region. Thus the name of the capital can be translated as the place of fermented angelfish.
Although it remains empty, Ngerulmud still plays an important role in life in Palau. Palau’s history dates back thousands of years, with Micronesian peoples settling the islands long before any European contact. The islands were first seen by Europeans in the 16th century and were later colonized by Spain, which sold them to Germany in 1899. After World War I, Japan gained control under the mandate of the League of Nations.
Following Japan’s defeat in World War II, the islands came under US administration as part of the UN Pacific Islands Trust Territory.
Palau chose a different path than the rest of Micronesia by negotiating its own Treaty of Free Association with the United States. After years of referendums and constitutional amendments, Palau officially gained independence in October 1994, making it one of the smallest and youngest sovereign nations in the world.
The Republic of Palau consists of approximately 340 islands and is the western part of the Caroline Islands, while the eastern and central parts form the Federated States of Micronesia. Its total area is 180 square miles, making it the sixteenth smallest country in the world. Indonesia is located in the south and the Philippines is in the northwest.
