Cultivation is difficult on Nauru owing to the poor soil, irregular rainfall and the impact of mining. There are no local fruit or vegetables and most of the available food is canned, refined and imported.
Nauru is a 21 square kilometres (8 sq mi), oval-shaped island in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, 42 kilometres (26 mi) south of the Equator.
Nauru has two hospitals - Nauru General Hospital and Nauru Phosphate Corporation Hospital. There are no medical specialists, and serious or complicated cases are sent by air to Australia for treatment. Travellers are advised to take out full health insurance prior to departure.