Olimarao

Olimarao is an atoll in the Western Caroline Islands.

Alternative spellings and historic names include: Olimarao, Olimarau, Olimario Onomarai, Welhimerahw

Olimarao is a coral atoll is located at 7° 41' N, 145° 51' E about 21 miles west-northwest of Elato and 95 miles south-southeats of Gaferut. It is about two and one third miles in length (NE-SW) and one and one half miles in breadth, and consists of two small, flat, wooded islets, Olimarao Island in the northeast, is 800 yards long and 400 yards wide. Falifil in the southwest is smaller, Several shallow entrances in the south give access to the lagoon, which has an area of 1.8 square miles. There are no permanent inhabitants, but other islanders have historically visited the atoll in search of resources.

The atoll was discovered by Russian Friedrich Benjamin Graf von Lütke in 1828.

Olimarao is among the Outer Islands of Yap within Yap State, one of four states that comprise the Federated States of Micronesia.

Subunits

Islands within the atoll include: Olimarao, Falifil (Falipi, or Fuaripii)

"Olimarao" is also an island. As with many placenames in Micronesia, this is a geographic 'pars pro toto', in which the name of a constitutive village, island or atoll is often used describe the larger island, atoll or island grouping in which it is the predominate member.

Ownership

The atoll of Olimarao is owned but, but is located outside, the atoll of Elato. The atoll resultantly falls within the Sayiniké; a Lamotrek / Satawal / Elato exchange ("tribute") system, as well as within the larger Sawei system of Yap / Outer Island exchange.