Poland, farm village in Kiribati
Poland is a small village on the western side of Kiritimati, the largest atoll in Kiribati, in the central Pacific Ocean. The settlement is made up of scattered houses on flat land, with low vegetation and open spaces between the buildings.
Kiritimati was only permanently settled in the 20th century, when the British colonial administration encouraged the establishment of communities across the island. The population grew further after Kiribati gained independence in 1979.
The name Poland has nothing to do with the European country, but is one of several unexpected place names found on Kiritimati. Locals use these names in everyday conversation without any particular connection to their origins, giving the island a playful geography.
Getting around the village and surrounding area is easiest with a vehicle, as the houses are spread out and there is little shade along the paths. Road conditions on Kiritimati can vary, so it is worth checking locally before heading out.
Kiritimati was repositioned to the east of the international date line in 1995, which made it one of the first places on Earth to welcome each new year. This means that when it is still December 31 in most of the world, it is already January 1 on the island.
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