Nauru (näōˈrō) [key], officially Republic of Nauru, atoll and
independent republic (2005 est. pop. 13,000), c.8 sq mi (20 sq
km), central Pacific, just south of the equator and west of the
Gilbert Islands of Kiribati. It was formerly called Pleasant
Island. There is no official capital, but government offices are
located in the Yaren District (1996 est. pop. 600) in the
southwestern part of the atoll. There is a narrow band of
habitable land along the coast; the island's interior is
environmentally devastated as a result of phosphate mining.
Nauruans (nearly 60% of the population) are predominantly
Polynesian with a mix of Micronesian and Melanesian strains.
There is a large Pacific Islander minority and smaller groups of
Chinese and Europeans. Nearly all the inhabitants are
Christians; two thirds are Protestant and one third are Roman
Catholic. The official language is Nauruan, but English is
commonly used in government and commerce.  Nauru was important
for its high-grade phosphate deposits, now depleted,