KOROR

formerly Corrora, one of the Caroline Islands, western Pacific; it is the administrative headquarters of the Republic of Palau and lies just southwest of Babelthuap Island. Partly uplifted coral-limestone and partly volcanic in origin, it has a land area of 3 square miles (8 square km) and rises to 459 feet (140 m). A territorial centre under Japanese administration (before 1944), Koror was well-populated (about 30,000 people) and highly developed. Devastated during World War II, it subsequently developed as an increasingly important commercial and tourist centre. A copra-processing plant opened in 1976. Pop. (1990 prelim.) 10,493.