Nan Madol (Basalt City)
Ruined city of the island of Pohnpei, built on about ninety artificial islets separated by canals, with walls, tombs and terraces raised from great prismatic basalt columns ferried and set into place. It was the ceremonial and political centre of the Saudeleur dynasty, and legend holds that the massive stones were flown and set in place by magic, and that the city fell to the warrior Isokelekel, who came from the east and overthrew the last Saudeleur. Today the site is a World Heritage monument of Micronesia, its canals and basalt ramparts still bearing the names and stories of the chiefs, god