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Micronesia, means "small islands" and is the
collective name given to the two thousand, tiny, tropical
islands, scattered over an area of more than three million
square miles of the Pacific Ocean, between Hawaii
and The Philippines. (Some islands are so small they do not appear on many world maps).
The eight, main island groups, that form Micronesia include: Guam, The
Republic of Palau (Belau), The Marianas, Pohnpei,
Yap, Truk (Chuuk), The Marshall Islands and Kosrae. Each
island group has its own unique cultures, language, history
and attractions.
The islands and
atolls are the culminating result of volcanic activity, which took
place millions of years ago. Many of the islands
are the summits of huge, underwater mountains, or rims of sunken volcano craters, peaking through the
water surface, forming tropical lagoons.
Following World War II, The U.S.A. administered the
Islands of Micronesia as a trust territory under the
United Nations. More recently, the islands
attained self-government, with subdivision and
the formation of: The Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, The Republic of
Palau and The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands - a United States Territory
 Geographical Information: The Islands of
Micronesia are situated north of Papua New Guinea and to the west of Hawaii, approximately 5 hours flying time, from Cairns. Made up of more
than 2000 Islands, the total population is approximately
160,000. Guam, is the largest and most populous of the islands and the
main gateway to Micronesia.
The People: Micronesia was settled about 3000
years ago by seafarers who travelled across from South East Asia. The English language is widely spoken in addition to a number of indigenous
languages including; Palauan, Yapese, Chuukese and
Marshallese.
The Nature: The islands of Micronesia are
geographically, culturally and naturally diverse. They include the high volcanic
islands of Pohnpei and Kosrae, the raised coral islands of
Guam and Saipan and coral atolls of The Marshall
Islands. Inhabited areas consist of local
villages that have maintained the traditional and cultural way of life, with few modern day facilities, there are also the more upmarket,
resort areas of Guam and Saipan offering luxurious accommodation, entertainment attractions and great shopping. Micronesia has some
of the most pristine underwater environments supporting thousands of fish species and
a lush, tropical topside that houses an abundance of bird-life
and flora and fauna.
Activities: Micronesia is renowned for its world class diving. The pristine waters plays host to a variety of dazzling marine life whilst Truk Lagoon is the ultimate destination for wreck diving enthusiasts. Kayak around the many islands or hike to secluded lake and waterfalls. For culture lovers visit and enjoy the experience of traditional village life and for the history buffs there are many World War II sites to keep you enthralled. |
