Kosrae Island the tropical Jewel of Micronesia
Discover Kosrae, the Jewel of Micronesia and experience the South Sea Dream that still lives on.
Have you been to the very edge of paradise? Look up the coordinates 5 degrees North, 163 degrees East.
Welcome to the Jewel of Micronesia– Kosrae. Kosrae is the easternmost boundary of the Federated States of Micronesia. Out of the four other islands of the FSM, Kosrae is the only one which does not have atolls. It is also the FSM’s second largest island, measuring 42 square miles.
The topography of Kosrae is typical of that of a volcanic island. At it’s center lies a 2000 ft. Volcano. Lush, green, jungle vegetation covers the island and rivers and waterfalls wind through. The jungle gives way to the Mangrove ecosystem, closer to the coast. This leads to
pristine white sand beaches and crystal, clear blue waters.
Underwater lies the sparkling magnificence of King Neptunes realm. Kosrae’s reefs are among the very few thriving ecosystems left in the world today. They are host to many species of hard and soft corals of which there are approximately 182 varieties which have been identified. They house some 250 species of fish and other marine life. Underwater visibility is 200+ feet on the clearest of days. A boon to the scuba diving enthusiasts and snorkelers.
HOW TO GET TO KOSRAE: Kosrae is accessible via air and sea. Continental Micronesia is the only airlines servicing the Federated States of Micronesia. The airplane which takes visitors to Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae is known as the “island hopper” as that is what it does– hops from one island of the FSM to the next. Visitors would be flying in from international flights to the island territory of the USA called Guam. From Guam, you have to catch the island hopper. Visitors would need to check with their local travel agents or Continental Micronesia to double check on the schedule of the flights. If you are sailing to Kosrae, check with the Kosrae Port Authority to follow up on boat clearances and harbor fees, etcetera.
IMPORTANT!!!! Although visitors to the FSM only need a valid passport and onward ticket to stay for up to 30 days in the FSM, one has to check to see if they do need Transit Visas for Guam. As Guam is a territory of the United States of America, they are under their jurisdiction and all travelers must comply to USA Homeland Security rules. It is highly recommended to check if your nationality is under the Visa-Waiver Section from the USA Consulate or Embassy in your country of residence.
KOSRAE TID BITS: Kosrae has played numerous parts in the colorful history of the Pacific. Remnants of many events that have taken place on the island throughout history remains there to this day. Visitors can traverse around the island and view these treasures. Some highlights of Kosrae are the following:
PIRATE TREASURES: Does the thought of going treasure hunting thrill you? The infamous pirate, William Hayes (aka “Bully” Hayes) lost his ship the Leonora in the Utwe Harbor during a wild storm in 1874. It is said that Bully buried his treasure in Kosrae. The ship still lies in the harbor, but the treasure….has never been found.
LELU RUINS: The ancient ruins of Lelu are among one of the wonders of the Pacific. Huge, basaltic slabs were arranged in order to make up 20-ft walls. These tremendous structures, dating back to the 13th century, encompassed a once important city in the past which ruled over the entire Micronesian region. These ruins of these large basaltic walls, channels, streets, tombs, and living quarters are being preserved and can now be explored.
MENKA RUINS: The Menka ruins houses the temple of the goddess of breadfruit, Sinlaku. This is where she spent her last days before fleeing to Yap upon the arrival of the missionaries in 1852. Legend has it that an islander heard a strange voice from Sinlaku one night. The goddess described a light coming in from the horizon which made her afraid. This is the exact night before the arrival of the first missionaries in 1852 on the ship SS Morning Star. This legend is one reason why it was easy for locals to be converted to Christianity. The Menka ruins are smaller in comparison to the Lelu Ruins.
MOUNT FINAKOL: 2, 064 feet of hiking challenge. Enjoy the hike up Mt. Finakol and observe the lush rainforest vegetation surrounding you. When you reach the summit, you are guaranteed the best view of Kosrae.
WIJAYA BIRD CAVE: The Wijaya Cave is a huge cave which is home to Kosrae’s Swiftlet Bird. Legend has it that this cave was once home to a family of giants and that there is a secret passage which leads to the other side of the island. However, the legend may remain a mystery because the cave floor is unsafe for walking as it is covered with a copious amount of bird droppings.
MOUNT OMA HIKING TRAIL: Follow the Oma Hiking Trail and witness the abundant tropical flora and fauna of Kosrae. You will be able to freshen up at some waterfalls and see some WWII Caves.
MANGROVE TOURS: Float along the mangrove channels in an Outrigger canoe or by Kayak. Identify some of Kosrae’s oldest hardwood trees with prop and buttress roots; monitor lizards; mangrove crab trapping; indigenous birds and fish.
DIVING: Kosrae is Micronesia’s best kept secret. Very few know that it is a diver’s paradise. It’s richness in marine life is unsurpassed. Some of the coral communities are believed to be more then 2000 years old in some areas. There are resident dolphins on the coast and whales can be spotted at times. Sunken WWII wrecks, most notably the Sansun Maru and the Keikyu Maru, are also available for the wreck enthusiasts. Other popular dive sites include the Walung Drop Off, Shark Island, Walung Coral Garden, Hiroshi Point, Walung Coral Shelf, Yela Wall, Malem Coral Garden, The Leonora (Bully Hayes’ Ship) and the Blue Hole (formal burial place for the royal families of Kosrae). There is something for every level of dive experience in the jewel of Micronesia. And many more jewels to be discovered in it’s depths.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
KVB European Representative:
MOJO International Corporation
32 Lycavitos Avenue, Egkomi,
2401-Nicosia, Cyprus
Telephone: 00357-22-355-447
Mobile: 00357-99-125-970
Email: Peter@mojointernationalcorp.com
Website: www.mojointernationalcorp.com
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