诺鲁(Nauru)
诺鲁语作Naoero
正式名称诺鲁共和国（Republic of Nauru）
南太平洋上，密克罗尼西亚东南方的岛国。面积21平方公里。人口约12,100（2001）。首都：亚伦。约3/4的本土诺鲁人为玻里尼西亚、密克罗尼西亚和美拉尼西亚人後裔。语言︰诺鲁语和英语。宗教︰主要为基督教。货币︰澳大利亚元（A$）。诺鲁为珊瑚岛，中央有一海拔30～60公尺的高原。围绕岛屿的一狭长带状肥沃土地是主要的居住区。由於缺乏港口，船只需在沙洲外浮标处下锚停泊。该国为世界最大的磷酸盐矿物产地。其经济过去主要是靠矿业，由於矿藏量已大大减少，如今主要经济来源已转至渔业和其他事业。政府形式为共和国，一院制。国家元首暨政府首脑为总统。
第一批英国探险家在1798年登陆时，该岛居民为太平洋岛民。在受到岛上居民友善的欢迎後，英国人称其为「欢乐岛」。1888年被德国并吞，第一次世界大战开始时被澳大利亚占领，1919年则受到不列颠、澳大利亚和纽西兰三国的联合委任统治。第二次世界大战时又遭到日本占领。1947年成为澳大利亚政府下的联合国托管地，1968年完全独立，1969年加入大英国协。1990年代中期历经政治动乱。
English version：
Nauru
officiallyRepublic of NauruIsland republic, southeastern Micronesia, South Pacific Ocean. Area: 8 sq mi (21 sq km). Population (1997 est.): 10,000. Capital: Yaren. About three-fifths of the population are indigenous Nauruans of Polynesian, Micronesian, and Melanesian ancestry. Language: Nauruan, English. Religion: Christianity (predominantly). Currency: Australian dollar. Nauru is a coral island with a central plateau 100-200 ft (30-60 m) high. A thin strip of fertile land encircling the island is the major zone of human settlement. It lacks harbors, and ships must anchor to buoys beyond a reef. Nauru had the world's largest concentration of phosphate, and its economy was formerly based on its mining and processing; deposits are now depleted, and the economy is being converted to fishing and other ventures. It is a republic with one legislative house; its head of state and government is the president. Nauru was inhabited by Pacific islanders when the first British explorers arrived in 1798 and named it Pleasant Island after their friendly welcome. Annexed by Germany in 1888, it was occupied by Australia at the start of World War I, and in 1919 it was placed under a joint mandate of Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. During World War II it was occupied by the Japanese. Made a UN trust territory under Australian administration in 1947, it gained complete independence in 1968 and joined the British Commonwealth in 1969. During the mid-1990s it suffered political unrest.