Ngardmau
| Ngardmau | ||
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| State | ||
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 Location of Ngardmau in Palau |
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| Country |
 Palau
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| Capital | Urdmang | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 53 km2 (20 sq mi) | |
| Population | ||
| • Total | 221 | |
| • Density | 4.2/km2 (11/sq mi) | |
| ISO 3166 code | PW-222 | |
Ngardmau is one of Palau's sixteen states and is located on the west side of Babeldaob between the states of Ngaraard and Ngeremlengui. Its total area is 20.5 square miles (53 km2). According to the last census, 221 persons live in Ngardmau. Their 46 households are situated in three hamlets: Ngetbong, Ngerutoi and Urdmau. The hamlets have no visible boundaries, but form one settlement.
The highest elevation on Palau is in Ngardmau; Mt. Ngerchelchuus, which is slightly over 700 feet (210 m) tall. At the south base of this mountain is a forest with giant trees that shelter many species of birds.
In Ngardmau there are five retail stores, one laundromat, two gas stations, one construction enterprise, and one auto repair shop. Ngardmau has two tourist accommodations, a small apartment rental in the settlement and two bungalows in the woods above a scenic waterfall (Taki Falls), which is the main tourist attraction of Ngardmau.
One of the beautiful legends of Ngardmau includes "Ngerchokl" water wells. This place called "Ngerchokl" was known to be the water of youth. If a person jumped in the water well and came up, he or she would years younger. However, the water well "Ngerchokl" lost its power in later years. A woman who was traveling with her child came upon the water well to drink water but because it was too hot, she decided to jump in not knowing the natural magic of the water. When she came up, she was younger than her age so her child cried heavily because the mother looked so different. The mother tried to console the child but didn't work. The woman eventually jumped again in the water well and she turned back to her old self again. The curse of this water well began and it has never been the same then. Today, the villagers share this story in many occasions with laughter.
Ngardmau traditional political and social system is very strong and is still being utilized today. Women association called "Ngaratumtum" and men association called "Ngara Okelout" are organizations which keep the women and men of Ngardmau active in traditional way of life and old values. "Bul" is a form of punishment of long time ago when person got into trouble stealing or walking on the road passing the curfew time. "Bul" punishment fine are paid to chiefs of Ngardmau. Today both "bul" punishment and government laws are both utilized in Ngardmau to keep the State clean and free of crime.
The government of Ngardmau is also run by a governor (Akiko Sugiyama), representative (Mr. Kasolei), and senators. However Ngardmau's chiefs and their female counterparts are still in power, preserving the traditional way of life as well as values. Ngardmau is divided into three hamlets (Urdmang, Ngerutoi, and Ngetbong). These hamlets have chiefs and are presented in a hierarchy system according to clan. Beouch is a title for the highest chief and Ngirkebai is for second high chief (Aichi Kumangai), and followed by several other titles.
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Wikipedia