Nan Madol
A ceremonial and political centre built on artificial islets, with monumental basalt walls, canals, tombs, residences, and sacred enclosures.
Photo: NOAA · Public domain
- Country
- Micronesia
- Region
- Pohnpei
- Civilisation
- Saudeleur
- Period
- 13th–17th centuries CE
- UNESCO
- World Heritage ↗
Through time
The story
Nan Madol is an archaeological site adjacent to the eastern shore of the island of Pohnpei, now part of the Madolenihmw district of Pohnpei state in the Federated States of Micronesia in the western Pacific Ocean. Nan Madol was the capital of the Saudeleur dynasty until about 1628. The city, constructed in a lagoon, consists of a series of small artificial islands linked by a network of canals. The site core with its stone walls encloses an area approximately 1.5 by 0.5 kilometres (0.93 mi × 0.31 mi) and it contains 92 artificial islets—stone and coral fill platforms—bordered by tidal canals.
The name Nan Madol means "within the intervals" and is a reference to the canals that crisscross the ruins. The original name was Soun Nan-leng, "Reef of Heaven", according to Gene Ashby in his book Pohnpei, An Island Argosy. It is often called the "Eighth Wonder of the World", or the "Venice of the Pacific".
Adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What you will see
- Nandauwas
- Canal network
- Basalt islets
Before you go
- Check opening hours and ticket rules shortly before your visit — they change seasonally.
- Plan for the heat. Most ancient sites have little shade; go early or late.
- Respect the barriers. Fragile surfaces are protected for the next visitors.
Discoveries from Nan Madol
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