The country's largest island (often called "the Big Island") has waterfalls, jungles, Japanese wartime ruins, ancient stone pillars and carvings, interesting caves and remote villages. At the southwestern tip of the island is the international airport. Nearby is the village of Airai. The settlement is near the remains of a Japanese communications center, the Cave of the Defenders. Airai also has some traditional meetinghouses called a bai as well as a modern one.
The central part of Babeldoab holds ancient agricultural terraces and a Japanese war memorial. In the center of the eastern coast is Melekeok, where the new capitol building is located. This village also has ancient carved stone heads, a beautifully maintained bai and an ancient dancing ground. The best beaches on Babeldoab stretch northward from Melekeok to the northern tip of the island.
In the north are Taki Falls (80-ft/25-m tall), the old Japanese bauxite works and the stone sculptures of Badrulchau, 37 enormous monolithic blocks in an extraordinary setting in the hills, overlooking the coast. Most visitors to the north end of the island still travel by boat, but a paved road that leads to the city center is also well travelled. 20 mi/30 km northeast of Koror.
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