Kiribati

Kiribati is a group of 33 coral atolls and islands, stretching over 3.5 million square kilometers of ocean - an area larger than India, yet with a landmass of barely 810 square kilometers, about the size of Berlin.

The islands straddle both the Equator and the International Date Line, making Kiribati the only country in the world that lies in all four hemispheres - north, south, east, and west. It’s also the first nation to welcome each new day, having shifted its time zone in 1995.

Kiribati’s islands were first settled by Micronesian and Polynesian voyagers over two thousand years ago. The first Europeans to record them were Spanish sailors in the 16th century, but they remained mostly unknown until the 19th century, when British whalers began visiting the region.

Isolated and deeply maritime, the I-Kiribati people have lived in harmony with the sea for generations. Traditional wooden canoes with outriggers are still used for fishing, travel, and even racing during community festivals.

Though the islands face serious challenges from climate change and rising seas, the people of Kiribati remain known for their warmth, resilience, and seafaring spirit.

Sailor’s note: Kiribati’s eastern island of Kiritimati (Christmas Island) is the first land on Earth to see the new day.