Yaren (in earlier times Makwa or Moqua) is a district of the Pacific island country of Nauru. It is the de facto capital of Nauru and is coextensive with Yaren Constituency. Yaren is located on the southern coast of the island and is the location of Nauru's government offices.
The district was created in 1968. Its original name, Makwa (or Moqua), refers to Moqua Well, an underground lake and primary source of drinking water for the Nauruan people.
Yaren is located in the south of the island. Its area is , and its elevation was . To the north of Yaren is Buada, to the east is Meneng, and to the west is Boe.
Yaren has a marine tropical rainforest climate (Köppen Af) with hot, humid conditions across the year.
Yaren (and sometimes Aiwo) is usually listed as the capital of Nauru. However, this is incorrect; the republic does not have cities nor an official capital. Yaren is accepted by the United Nations as the "main district".
English and Nauruan, the official languages of Nauru, are spoken in the district.
The following government offices are located in this district:
Yaren also constitutes a political constituency. It returns two members to the Parliament of Nauru.
The primary and secondary schools serving all of Nauru are Yaren Primary School in Yaren District (Years 1âÂÂ3), Nauru Primary School in Meneng District (Years 4âÂÂ6), Nauru College in Denigomodu District (Years 7âÂÂ9), and Nauru Secondary School (Years 10âÂÂ12) in Yaren District.
The Nauru Learning Village in Yaren houses the University of the South Pacific Nauru Campus, the Nauru Technical & Vocational Education Training Centre, and Nauru Secondary.