Time Zone |
Pacific/Palau |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+9 |
Daylight Saving Time |
Daylight saving time is not observed in the current region. |
Time Zone |
Africa/Sao_Tome |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+0 |
Daylight Saving Time |
Daylight saving time is not observed in the current region. |
Palau Melekeok is the capital of the Republic of Palau, located on the east coast of the country's largest island, Papertauapu. As the political and administrative center of Palau, the city is sparsely populated (about 300 people) but carries the core functions of the country's government agencies. Known for its pristine natural beauty, Merekeoak is surrounded by dense rainforests and clear coral waters, reflecting Palau's ecological character as the "Jewel of the Pacific".
Officially replacing Koror as the capital in 2006, Mielekeok's iconic Capitol Building, built with Taiwan's assistance, is a blend of traditional Palauan architecture and modern design. The city retains strong Micronesian cultural traditions, and the local community still follows a tribal chieftaincy system. It is also an important gateway for exploring Palau's world-class diving destinations such as the Rock Islands and the Blue Hole.
The city is located in a tropical climate zone with an average annual temperature of 27°C. The surrounding waters boast some of the richest marine biodiversity in the world, including more than 700 species of coral and 1,500 species of fish. The tropical rainforest near Melekeoak is home to rare species such as the Palauan fruit bat, reflecting Palau's emphasis on environmental protection, and 80% of the country's waters are designated as marine protected areas.
São Tomé and Príncipe is an island country in west-central Africa, consisting of the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe and the surrounding islets, with the capital, São Tomé, located in the northeastern part of São Tomé. Located on the Gulf of Guinea, about 200 kilometers from the African continent, the country was colonized by Portugal in the 15th century and became independent in 1975, with Portuguese as the official language and an economy based on agriculture (cocoa, palm oil) and tourism. It should be noted that "Java" is not a city or region of the country; Java is the main island of Indonesia, with cities such as Jakarta and Surabaya, and has nothing to do with São Tomé and Príncipe, possibly due to a confusion of names.