The is an incredible site of great cultural and historical value to the people of Pohnpei and the world. We were fortunate to meet the highest king of Pohnpei, Isipahu the high king of Nahnmwarki of Madolenihmw.



Nan Madol is hundreds of years old and was constructed of basalt, some massive weighing many tons. How the rock was transported has brought up many ideas. It has been commonly held here on Pohnpei that type of magic, a levitation was used. When standing beside the many structures in Nan Madol, you are struck by the magnitude of the size and effort that it took to construct this site.

There are a number of breadfruit trees and other plants that need to be eradicated from this site. The roots destroy the structure by cause it to topple. Some clearing has been noted but the trees need to be killed with an herbicide or they come right back. Of course an herbicide isn't good for the ecology but there doesn't appear to be a bette way to preserve the site.

These images represent the main burial site but there are many man made islands that comprise Nan Madol. There are approximately 90 islets. The human power required to move these basalt blocks is mind boggling considering the population that was present on Pohnpei, weight of the blocks and terrain that had to be traversed.

September 5, 2010

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Update July 2016

Dr. Amy Eisenberg nominated Nan Madol as a Unesco World Heritage Site. She continued to promote Nan Madol to Unesco and in July of 2016, Nan Madol was added to this list.