The Race to Save the Mysterious Micronesian Ruins of Nan Madol
Nan Madol has been dubbed by some as the “eighth wonder of the world” and others as the “Venice of the Pacific”.
Visiting the ruins of Nan Madol in the Federated States of Micronesia is like stepping into an Indiana Jones movie.
Twisted trees sprout from the massive, moss-covered stone columns that form the remains of centuriesold palaces, temples, and tombs.
It is an awe-inspiring place but despite the imposing presence of the ruins, the site is more fragile than it appears.
The man charged with protecting it said he could use Australia’s help to preserve it for future generations. It’s like the pyramids The ABC visited Nan Madol with Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop as she led a bipartisan delegation to the Federated States of Micronesia and two other North Pacific island countries last week.
After an hours’ drive from Kolonia, the main town on the island of Pohnpei, a 15-minute walk through a mangrove jungle brings us to the main building, the Nandawas. The walls of the Nandawas and the squat tomb-like building at its centre are built from columns of black basalt rock laid in a log cabin formation.
Unlike other famous historic sites like Cambodia’s Angkor Wat or Stonehenge in England which attract swarms of tourists, we have Nan Madol to ourselves. “This is extraordinary,” Ms Bishop said as she stepped off the boat. “It’s like the pyramids.”
Venice of the Pacific and Eighth Wonder of the World
Nan Madol has been dubbed by some as the “eighth wonder of the world” and others as the “Venice of the Pacific”. The reference to Venice comes from the canals that connect 92 man-made islets spread over 200 acres built with basalt and coral boulders.
Most of it was built between the 13th and 17th centuries by the Saudeleurs, the descendants of two mysterious brothers who founded a religious community in the sixth century.
Even today scientists still do not know how the rocks, some weighing 50 tonnes, were transported to the site from elsewhere on Pohnpei. Local legends claim magic was used to fly them in.
Despite its undoubted historic and cultural significance, Nan Madol was only placed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2016.
It also sits on the organisation’s world heritage in danger list due to a range of threats including the build-up of silt in the canals, allowing mangroves to flourish and undermine the stone edifices.
Australian help needed to ensure sustainability
The aim of Ms Bishop’s trip to the north Pacific was to strengthen Australia’s relationship with the region’s small island states. Mr Kohler said he could use Australia’s help to promote sustainable tourism and draw up a management plan for Nan Madol.