Editing Angaur (section)

==History==
[[File:Txu-pclmaps-oclc-22834566 l-13a.jpg|thumb|left|Map including Ngeaur ([[Defense Mapping Agency|DMA]], 1991)]]
[[File:Angaur State map-fr.svg|thumb|right|200px|Map of Angaur State with the Lukes (traditional place).]]
[[File:Palau-CIA WFB Map.png|thumb|right|200px|Location of Angaur (upper right)]]

Angaur was traditionally divided among some eight clans. Traditional features within clan areas represent important symbols giving identity to families, clans and regions . These features include a variety of stone platforms with historical and traditional importance. Traditional cemeteries are frequently located in or around some of these stone platforms. The large quantities of shell recovered from archaeological sites gives evidence for an intensive exploitation of the limited lagoon surrounding the island and for collecting and fishing outside of the reef as well. On the island, the localized areas of soil were intensively used for garden plots.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last1=Snyder|first1=David.|url=https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/003299366|title=Archaeology and historic preservation in Palau|last2=Adams|first2=William Hampton|last3=Butler|first3=Brian M.|date=1997|publisher=U.S. National Park Service|series=Anthropology research series / Division of Cultural Affairs, Republic of Palau 2|location=San Francisco}}</ref>

The first sighting of Angaur, [[Babeldaob]], [[Koror]], and [[Peleliu]] recorded by Westerners was by the Spanish expedition of [[Ruy López de Villalobos]] at the end of January 1543. They were then charted as ''Los Arrecifes'' (The Reefs in Spanish).<ref>Burney, James ''A chronological history of the discoveries in the South Sea or Pacific Ocean'', London, 1813, v.I, p.233.</ref> In November and December 1710, these three islands were again visited and explored by the Spanish missionary expedition commanded by [[Sargento Mayor]] [[Francisco Padilla (Sargento Mayor)|Francisco Padilla]] on board of the [[patache]] ''Santísima Trinidad''. Two years later they were explored in detail by the expedition of Spanish naval officer Bernardo de Egoy.<ref>Coello, Francisco "Conflicto hispano-alemán" ''Boletín de Sociedad Geográfica de Madrid'', t.XIX. 2º semestre 1885, Madrid, p.296.</ref>

From 1909 until 1954 [[phosphate]] mining took place on Angaur, originally by the Germans, then the Japanese, and finally by Americans. Angaur is the site of a major [[World War II]] battle. The [[Battle of Angaur]] was part of the larger offensive campaign called [[Operation Forager]] that ran from June to Nov 1944. Many American and Japanese battle relics<ref>[https://www.panoramio.com/map/#lt=6.920441&ln=134.143560&z=0&k=2&a=1&tab=1&pl=all Panoramio photos] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219052551/http://www.panoramio.com/map |date=2014-12-19 }} of Japanese command post on north end of Angaur Island, Palau.</ref> remain scattered throughout the island. The 7th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion under Lieutenant colonel [[Henry R. Paige]] served as garrison forces for the remainder of the War. Angaur is the only place in Micronesia that has feral monkeys; they are descended from [[macaques]] that escaped during the period of German occupation.<ref>Micronesia Handbook by Neil M. Levy, pp. 174–176</ref> Thus it is also called Monkey Island.

Angaur is accessible by boats and small planes, and [[Belau Air]] has service to [[Angaur Airstrip]]. From 1945 to 1978 the U.S. Coast Guard operated a [[LORAN]] transmitting station, LORSTA Palau, as part of the worldwide LORAN navigation system.