Kiribati brings you the luxury to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of an unspoilt tropical paradise. Walk along the beautiful beaches while soaking up the spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean or for a cultural experience, take the ferry trip to the small islands and enjoy the hospitality and unique way of life here; opportunities are galore in Kiribati. Located near the equator amidst the central tropical Pacific Ocean, this island nation comprises of total 32 atolls and one island of Banaba. Sprinkled over an area of 3,500,000 sq km, Kiribati consists of the Gilbert, Phoenix and Line groups of islands. One amusing fact about these islands is that each of the groups is situated in three separate hemispheres. The raised-coral islands of Kiribati were once a rich source of phosphates and were mined out regularly before its independence on July 12, 1979.
Kiribati, also known as the Gilbert Islands, was first settled between 200 and 500 AD and after fighting out British domination, today is established as an independent republic. However, the dangerous effects of global warming is lurking over Kiribati as the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change suspects that much of the island will be submerged by rising sea levels in the next few decades.