Central Plateau

Central Nauru (Topside), Nauru

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The Central Plateau, also known locally as Topside, is the raised interior area of Nauru island, composed mainly of coral-limestone pinnacles and limestone outcrops reaching heights up to around 65 meters (213 feet) above sea level.

This area covers over 70 percent of the island and is heavily characterized by exposed phosphate rock deposits resulting from extensive phosphate mining, which has left much of the land barren and unsuitable for agriculture. The plateau features rugged terrain with jagged pinnacles sometimes reaching 15 meters high, interspersed with soil and phosphate layers.

While the surrounding coastal belt is more fertile, the central plateau’s environment is harsh with very thin soil layers and limited vegetation, though some shrubbery and forests cling to the edges near the coastal cliffs and around the Buada Lagoon, a rare freshwater area.

Mining activity has significantly altered the landscape and ecology, and ongoing environmental rehabilitation efforts aim to restore vegetation and soil fertility to support sustainable development on the island.