What was Nan Madol made of?
What was Nan Madol made of?
columnar basalt
The complexes were built primarily from columnar basalt, a volcanic rock that breaks naturally to form massive rodlike blocks that make an ideal building material. Encompassing more than ninety islets, at its peak Nan Madol may have been home to a thousand people.
How do I get to Nan Madol?
The hard part about visiting Nan Madol is getting to the island of Pohnpei. Micronesia gets very few visitors as it is far away from any major population center, and there is only really one way to get to the island. The only way to get to the island is via the “island hopper” flight run by United Airlines.
How was the Nan Madol built?
Carbon dating indicates that megalithic construction at Nan Madol began around AD 1180 when large basalt stones were taken from a volcanic plug on the opposite side of Pohnpei. The earliest settlement on Pohnpei was probably around AD 1 although radiocarbon dating shows human activity starting around AD 80–200.
Is Micronesia a US territory?
21st century. Today, most of Micronesia are independent states, except for the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam and Wake Island, which are U.S. territories.
Who owns Pohnpei?
It belongs to Pohnpei State, one of the four states in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Major population centers on Pohnpei include Palikir, the FSM’s capital, and Kolonia, the capital of Pohnpei State.
Is Micronesia a part of the United States?
Today, most of Micronesia are independent states, except for the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam and Wake Island, which are U.S. territories.
Where is Nan Madol?
Nan Madol is located near the southern side of the Federated States of Micronesia. It is the only ancient city ever built atop a coral reef. We zigzag slowly in our skiff around the shallow coral heads surrounding Pohnpei. The island, a little smaller than New York City, is part of the Federated States of Micronesia.
Why is Nan Madol called the Venice of Micronesia?
About Nan Madol. The islets are surrounded by narrow stretches of water, resembling canals, so it’s not surprising that Nan Madol is sometimes referred to as “the Venice of Micronesia.”. One part of the city, built from basalt columns, was for priests and rulers; the other half was the administration center.
When were the artificial islands of Nan Madol built?
The ancient city of Nan Madol was built atop a coral reef. ( Dmitry / Adobe ) Evidence of the early human activity on the islands dates back to the first or second century BC, but it is not known exactly when the construction of the artificial islets started.
Why is Nan Madol a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
UNESCO has finally paid attention to the immense historical significance of Nan Madol, a mysterious ancient coral reef city off the island of Pohnpei in Micronesia, by placing it on the World Heritage List.
