Aur Atoll

Aur Atoll (Marshallese: Aur, [ɑurˠ]^[1]) is a coral atoll of 42 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ratak Chain of the Marshall Islands. Its total land area is only 15 square kilometers (5.6 sq mi), but it encloses a lagoon with an area of 620 square kilometers (240 sq mi). It is located south of Maloelap Atoll. The population of Aur Atoll was 317 in 2021.^[2]

Aur Atoll

NASA picture of Aur (left) and Maloelap (centre) Atolls
Location in the Marshall Islands
Aur Atoll
Geography
Location	North Pacific
Coordinates	8°12′N 171°06′E
Archipelago	Ratak
Total islands	42
Area	5.6 km2 (2.2 sq mi)
Highest elevation	3 m (10 ft)
Administration
Demographics
Population	317 (2021)
Ethnic groups	Marshallese

History

Aur Atoll was claimed by the German Empire along with the rest of the Marshall Islands in 1885.^[3] After World War I, the island came under the South Seas Mandate of Japan. Following the end of World War II, Aur came under the control of the United States as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. It became part of independent Republic of the Marshall Islands in 1986.

Sister cities

Aur Atoll has Taoyuan, Taiwan as a sister city since 2018.

Education

Marshall Islands Public School System operates public schools:^[4]

• Aur Elementary School
• Tobal Elementary School

Northern Islands High School on Wotje serves the community.^[5]

References

1. Marshallese-English Dictionary - Place Name Index
2. "Republic of the Marshall Islands 2021 Census Report, Volume 1: Basic Tables and Administrative Report" (PDF). Pacific Community (SPC): Statistics for Development Division. Pacific Community. May 30, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
3. Churchill, William (1920). "Germany's Lost Pacific Empire". Geographical Review. 10 (2): 84. JSTOR 207706.
4. "Public Schools Archived 2018-02-21 at the Wayback Machine." Marshall Islands Public School System. Retrieved on February 21, 2018.
5. "Annual Report 2011-2012 Archived 2018-02-22 at the Wayback Machine." Ministry of Education (Marshall Islands). Retrieved on February 22, 2018. p. 54 (PDF p. 55/118). "Northern Islands High School takes students from the Ratak Ean zone including schools in Aur, Maloelap, Wotje, Ailuk, Utrik, Likiep and Mejit."

External links

• Marshall Islands site
• Entry at Oceandots.com at the Wayback Machine (archived December 23, 2010)