Palau is the Oceanian country whose largest island is Babeldaob.
Babeldaob, also spelled Babelthuap, lies in the western Caroline Islands and covers about 331 square kilometers. That makes it Palau’s largest island and accounts for more than 70 percent of the country’s total land area. It is also the second-largest island in the wider Micronesia region, after Guam.
Unlike many of Palau’s low-lying coral islands, Babeldaob is mountainous and heavily forested. Its highest point is Mount Ngerchelchuus, which rises to 242 meters. The island’s eastern coast includes sandy beaches, while mangrove forests are prominent along parts of the western shore. Airai Airport, Palau’s principal airport, is located at the island’s southern end.
Babeldaob is politically important as well as geographically large. Palau’s national capital, Ngerulmud, is in Melekeok State on the island. Babeldaob contains portions of ten of Palau’s sixteen states, although Koror remains the country’s largest population and commercial center on a separate island. The Koror–Babeldaob Bridge links the two islands, making the capital region more accessible.
The names Tuvalu, Kiribati, and Nauru can mislead quiz-takers because they are also Pacific island countries, but none has Babeldaob.