Peleliu, Pacific archipelago island in Palau.
Peleliu is an island in the southwestern part of Palau, covering roughly 13 square kilometers and surrounded by coral reefs. The landscape shows sandy coastal stretches, steep limestone outcrops inland, and dense vegetation reaching down to the beaches.
The island became the site of one of the fiercest battles in the Pacific in September 1944, when American and Japanese forces fought for over two and a half months. After the war ended, this island fell under American administration and later became part of the independent Republic of Palau.
The name Peleliu comes from the local Palauan language and refers to an administrative district spread across several small settlements. Residents maintain traditional fishing practices and use the shallow lagoons for net and trap fishing.
Visitors reach the island by boat from Koror, with the crossing taking between 45 minutes and an hour depending on weather conditions. Lodging consists mainly of small guesthouses with basic amenities that require advance booking.
Beneath the ocean surface around the island lie dozens of sunken aircraft and tanks from World War II, now covered in coral and attracting divers. On some beaches you can still find small metal fragments and rusted ammunition remnants that recall the fighting.
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