What is micronesia. micronesia
- a state on 607 islands in the western part of the Pacific Ocean. Former name - Caroline Islands.
The name of the country comes from the ancient Greek "mikros" and "nesos", which means "small" and "island", meaning "micro-island".
General information about Micronesia
Official name: Federated States Micronesia (FSM)
Capital - Palikir.
Square - 702 km2.
Population - 130 thousand people
Administrative division - The state is divided into 4 states: Truk, Kostrae, Ponape, Yap.
Form of government - Republic.
Head of State - The president.
Official language - English (official and inter-ethnic), 8 local languages: Japanese, Woleai, Uliti and Sonsorol, Carolina, Truk, Kosrae, Nukuoro and Kapingamarangi.
Religion - 50% - Catholics, 47% - Protestants, 3% - others..
Ethnic composition - 41% - Chuukese, 26% - Ponpeians, 7 other ethnic groups - 33%.
Currency - US dollar = 100 cents.
Internet domain : .fm
Mains voltage : ~120 V, 60 Hz
Phone country code: +691
Country Description
Micronesia - means "small islands", and this absolutely accurately reflects the essence of this country. Although the islands are firmly tied to US economic and political interests, Micronesia stubbornly pursues its traditional path - a country where people flaunt loincloths and stone coins still circulate as legal tender. Micronesians are very proud of their past, especially since they have every right to do so - their ancestors on flimsy canoes crossed Pacific Ocean long before Europeans entered these waters.
The islands have some of the best diving, snorkelling and surfing conditions in the world and are being considered as a potential international center for beach holiday and water sports. The waters around the islands are teeming with many forms of exciting marine life. There are a large number of species of hard and soft corals, anemones, sponges, fish, dolphins and shellfish, including the giant clam tridacna. Large herds of whales pass through these waters every year. Several varieties sea turtle lays eggs on these shores, and the islanders are allowed to use both turtle meat and eggs for food. The islands are also famous for over 200 species of seabirds.
Climate
The climate of Micronesia is equatorial, more humid in the east of the archipelago, where the zone of cyclones passes. Conventionally, two seasons are distinguished: dry (January - March) and wet (April - December). From November to December, the northeast trade winds prevail, the rest of the year, southwest monsoon winds blow, bringing heavy rainfall. Pohnpei has an average of 300 rainy days a year. The average annual rainfall is 3000–4000 mm. Seasonal fluctuations in air temperature are insignificant, the average monthly temperatures are 24–30 ° C. The length of daylight hours is the same throughout the year. The part of the Pacific Ocean, where Micronesia is located, is the area of \u200b\u200bthe origin of typhoons (on average, there are up to 25 typhoons per year). The typhoon season is from August to December.
Geography
Federated States of Micronesia - island country in western Oceania and the Pacific. It borders the Palau Islands to the west, the Mariana Islands to the north, and the Marshall Islands to the east. Occupies most of the Caroline Islands (with the exception of Palau). Outside the main island arc are numerous atolls that make up the country. Micronesia consists of 607 islands, the largest of which are Pohnpei (342 sq. km), Kosrae (Kusaie, 111 sq. km), Chuuk (126 sq. km), Yap (118 sq. km). The total area of the islands is 720.6 sq. km, and the water area - 2.6 million square meters. km.
The most mountainous are about. Pohnpei (with the highest point - Mount Ngineni, 779 m), and about. Kosrae (Mount Finkol, 619 m). On about. Yap is dominated by rounded hills; the islands of Kosrae, Chuuk and Pohnpei are of volcanic origin. Most of the islands are low atolls on coral reefs. The most extensive sea lagoon is Chuuk (surrounded by 80 small islands).
Flora and fauna
Volcanic and coral islands differ in the nature of the vegetation. On the coast of volcanic islands - mangroves, coconut palms, bamboo. On the coral islands dominated by coconut palms.
The animal world is represented by bats, rats, crocodiles, snakes, lizards are found. The world of birds is diverse. Yap, unlike other "high" islands, is of non-volcanic origin, it is covered with hills and meadows. The waters of coral reefs and lagoons are rich in fish and sea animals.
Banks and currency
United States dollar (USD) equal to 100 cents. In circulation there are denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars. As well as coins: penny (1 cent), nickel (5 cents), dime (10 cents), quarter (25 cents), half-dollar (50 cents) and 1 dollar. Dollar - official currency countries, so there is no point in importing anything else. American dollar traveller's checks are accepted almost everywhere, and most major hotels, restaurants and shops accept them as cash. There are no commercial banks on either Truk (Chuuk) or Kosrai, so make sure you have enough cash before you travel to these islands. Credit cards are widely accepted in Pohnpei and are increasingly being used in Truk and Yap.
The content of the article
MICRONESIA, The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), a state in the northwestern part of Oceania between 0 and 14 ° N. latitude. and 136 and 166°E (2500 km from west to east), occupies 607 islands of the Caroline archipelago (except for the islands of Palau, or Belau, in the west). Consists of four states: Yap, Chuuk (formerly Truk), Pohnpei (formerly Ponape) and Kosrae (formerly Kusae). The total land area is 702 sq. km. (including Pohnpei 0.34 thousand sq. km., Chuuk 0.13 thousand sq. km., Yap 0.12 thousand sq. km., Kosrae 0.12 thousand sq. km.). Only 40 islands are significant in size. The largest of them are islands with the same names as the states. The capital is the city of Palikir on the island of Pohnpei.
NATURE
According to the geological structure, low coral islands rising 3–5 m above sea level and higher volcanic ones (Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae) with elevated mountainous central parts are distinguished. Volcanic islands are surrounded by lagoons, separated from the ocean by coral barrier reefs, often consisting of several dozen small islands. Many reefs have passages that allow ships to approach large islands.
Yap State includes seven small and four large islands (Yap, Map, Rumung, Gagil-Tomil) and 134 atolls, spreading from west to east for 1100 km. Yap Island is characterized by a hilly terrain with maximum height 178 m (Mount Tabivol) and fertile soils. It is surrounded by a barrier reef. Most of the population of the state of the same name lives on the island of Yap. The state capital is the city of Colonia. The largest atoll of the Caroline Islands, Uliti Island (8 sq. km), consists of 40 small islands. The Fais atoll in the Yap group is known for its phosphorite reserves.
The state of Chuuk, which occupies a central position in the FSM, is located 1440 km east of Yap Island and consists of 15 small island groups scattered in the waters of the Pacific Ocean over a distance of 480 km in a latitudinal direction in the north and 960 km in the south. The state also includes the Namonuito atolls (the second largest in the world), consisting of 10 islets, Namoluk (triangular), Laol, Pis, Talap, the islands of Pular, Puluwat, Kuop, Nama, Losap, Mortlock (100 islands in three groups - Ethal, Lukunor and Satavan). The Chuuk Islands proper is a compact group of 14 mountainous islands of volcanic origin (Moen, Tol, Dublon, Fefan, Uman, etc.) with total area 72 sq. km, surrounded by a coral reef. Main city Chuuk Moen state is located on island of the same name. Lagoon surrounding 14 central islands Chuuk group with an area of 2000 sq. km, serves as an excellent harbor for the port on the island of Dublon. The settlements are confined to the coasts of the islands.
The state of Pohnpei occupies the largest island of the same name, surrounded by a reef consisting of 2.5 dozen islets, half of which are of volcanic origin. The state also includes the islands of Ant (2 large and 12 small), Pakin, Oroluk (with small islets), Mokil (the islands of Urak, Manton, Mokil with excellent timber and several hundred small ones), Pingelap (Pingelap itself, Takai and Tagulu , united by one reef), as well as two isolated atolls, Nukuoro and Kapingamarangi (also known as Greenwich).
The soils of Pohnpei are fertile, lush forest vegetation covers the slopes rising straight from the shores up to Mount Nana Laud (798 m), located in the center of the island. Numerous rivers originate from it - sources of drinking water. On this island is the capital of the state of Palikir with the residences of the government and congress, a modern airport and sea port. The state capital is the city of Colonia.
The state of Kosrae is located on the island of the same name and the surrounding reef in the extreme east of the FSM. The island is mountainous with a strongly dissected relief (the most high point- Mount Fincol, 634 m above sea level), covered with thickets of excellent timber forest. The soils are fertile. There are significant reserves of river drinking water. Kosrae Island is surrounded by a reef, there are four convenient bays (Okat, Lelu, Taf and Utwe). The main settlements - Tafunsak, Lelu, Malem and Utwe - are located on the coast and are interconnected by an unpaved road. The capital city of the state is Lelu. There is a local air connection with o.Pohnpei. The airport is operational.
The climate of FSM is equatorial, more humid in the east of the archipelago, where the zone of cyclones passes. Conventionally, two seasons are distinguished: dry (January - March) and wet (April - December). From November to December, the northeast trade winds prevail, the rest of the year, southwest monsoon winds blow, bringing heavy rainfall. Pohnpei has an average of 300 rainy days a year. The average annual rainfall is 3000–4000 mm. Seasonal fluctuations in air temperature are insignificant, the average monthly temperatures are 24–30 ° C. The length of daylight hours is the same throughout the year.
The vegetation is represented mainly by virgin moist equatorial forests on the slopes of the mountains. On volcanic islands, it is much more diverse than on coral ones. The coasts of volcanic islands are often covered with mangroves. The coconut palm grows on both types of islands, breadfruit, pandanus, bananas. Europeans and Asians introduced citrus fruits, cassava, sweet potato, various tropical fruit trees, chocolate tree, and black pepper.
The land fauna is not very diverse. Bats, rats (brought on ships by the first Europeans), lizards are represented. Many kinds of birds. Extremely varied and rich animal world ocean, including many species of fish, crustaceans, bivalves, dolphins, whales and dugongs are sometimes found.
POPULATION
As of July 2003, the FSM had a population of 108,143. The age composition of the population: under 15 years old - 38%, aged 15 to 64 years old - 59%, over 65 years old - 3%. The average life expectancy is 69.13 years. Population growth in 2003 was 0.04%. The birth rate reaches 26.47 per 1000 inhabitants, the death rate is 5.1 per 1000. The emigration rate is 20.98 per 1000. Infant mortality is 32.39 per 1000 newborns.
The "free association" agreement with the United States allows citizens of the country to freely choose their place of residence within the United States. At the present time in the USA (on the island of Guam, the Hawaiian Islands and on the mainland) approx. 15 thousand FSM citizens.
The ancestors of the modern inhabitants of the Caroline Islands come from South-East Asia. In racial terms, they form a special group, formed as a result of a mixture of Australoid and Mongoloid elements. The atolls of Nukuoro and Kapingamarangi are inhabited by Polynesians. In ethnic terms, 9 groups are distinguished.
The official language of the FSM and the language of international communication is English. The indigenous languages of the archipelago belong to the East Oceanic group of the Oceanian branch of the Austronesian family: Yap, Woleai, Uliti and Sonsorol, Caroline, Truk, Kosrae, Nukuoro and Kapingamarangi. The last two belong to the Polynesian languages. The writing of local languages is based on the Latin script. Many older people speak Japanese.
50% are Catholics, 47% are Protestants, less than 1% of the population adheres to local traditional beliefs.
Ethnic composition and employment.
The ancestors of the modern inhabitants of the Caroline Islands come from Southeast Asia. According to the latest theories, Micronesia was settled in two ways - through the islands of the Malay Archipelago, and possibly the Japanese Islands, and also through Vanuatu (former New Hebrides). The inhabitants of the Caroline Islands, like all Micronesians, racially form a special group, formed as a result of a mixture of Australoid and Mongoloid elements. They are characterized by rather dark skin, wavy, straight and curly hair, and medium height. In the appearance of some Carolinians, there are also Japanese, Chinese and European features. The atolls of Nukuoro and Kapingamarangi are inhabited by Polynesians.
The traditional occupations of the local population are fishing and farming. Small areas of the forest cleared from the forest are used for the cultivation of coconut palm, breadfruit, pandanus, yams, sweet potatoes, cassava, bananas, taro, sugar cane. Currently, citrus fruits, various fruits (pineapples, papaya, mangoes, etc.), chocolate tree, pepper (black and betel) are also grown. The population is also engaged in fishing and collecting shellfish and crustaceans on the reef. In recent years, employment in the tourism business (hotels, restaurants, agencies) and airports has been growing. In the cities, Carolinians work as petty employees and are engaged in handicrafts, in particular, the manufacture of souvenirs.
Language and writing.
The official language of the FSM is English, which is also the language of interethnic communication. The languages of the indigenous population of the archipelago belong to the East Oceanic group of the Oceanian branch of the Austronesian family - Yap, Woleai, Ulithi and Sonsorol, Caroline, Truk, Kosrae, Nukuoro and Kapingamarangi. The last two belong to the Polynesian languages. The writing of local languages is based on the Latin script. English is taught in all schools. Many older people speak Japanese.
Religion.
The overwhelming majority of the population professes Christianity, and there are approximately equal numbers of Catholics and Protestants. Protestants predominate in some states (over 98% in Kosrai), in others - Catholics (Chuuk state). Less than 1% of the population adheres to local traditional beliefs.
POLITICAL SYSTEM
The FSM is a democratic, federal presidential republic in a "free association" relationship with the United States. The head of state and government is the president. Like the Vice President, he is elected by Congress from among its members for a term of four years. In 2003, Joseph John Urusemal was elected President of Micronesia.
The highest legislative body is the National Congress, which consists of 14 members. 4 of them (sometimes called senators) are elected by the population for 4 years (one from each state), the remaining 10 - for 2 years in single-member districts (5 in Chuuk, 3 in Pohnpei, 1 each in Yap and Kosrae). The last elections took place in 2003. The minimum age for participation in elections is 18 years.
Each of the 4 states has a governor and a legislature elected by the people.
There are no official political parties.
The highest judicial body is the Supreme Court.
The FSM is a member of the UN (since 1991) and its specialized organizations, as well as a number of regional organizations, such as the Pacific Forum.
There are no own armed forces. According to the agreement on "free association", the country's military protection is provided by the United States.
ECONOMY
Micronesia's economy is based on subsistence and semi-subsistence agriculture and fishing. There are few minerals on the islands, except for phosphates. There is significant potential for the development of the tourism industry, but the remote location, the lack of developed infrastructure and an established system of transport links hold it back. Private sector grows slowly.
After the value of GDP reached $145 million in 1989, it declined in subsequent years and in 2002 was estimated to be around $100 million, or approx. 2 thousand dollars per capita. Real GDP growth in 2002 reached 1%. Agriculture provided 50% of the value of GDP, industry - 4%, services - 46%.
The inflation rate in 2002 was 1%. OK. 28% of the population lives below the official poverty line. Two-thirds of the wage labor force works in the public sector. Unemployment in 1999 reached 16%.
Agriculture provides 60% of the country's food needs. Nearly 50% of the working population all year round or during agricultural work. They grow coconut palm, breadfruit, pandanus, yams, sweet potato, cassava, bananas, taro, citrus fruits, papaya, mango, chocolate tree, pepper (black and betel), and other crops. Goats, sheep and buffalo are bred on Pohnpei. Some agricultural products are exported, mainly coconut products. The coconut palm, its leaves and nuts are the main food of the islanders. In recent years, the role of fishing has increased in the country's economy, since the resources of the ocean within the maritime economic zone (2.6 million square kilometers) are its property. Licensed fishing is carried out by Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Mexico and USA. The Micronesian Maritime Academy operates on Yap, which trains personnel for the development of fisheries.
Foreign tourism is developing. Every year the country is visited by approx. 25 thousand tourists, mainly from Australia and Japan. The industry is dominated by construction, fish processing, aquaculture, the production of handicrafts and souvenirs from shells, wood and mother-of-pearl.
The main export items are copra (more than 50% of export value), pepper (black and betel), fish (mainly tuna), trochus shells, coconut derivatives (edible and cosmetic oils, soaps, creams), bananas, local handicrafts. The export volume is 73 million dollars per year. Goods are exported primarily to Japan, the USA and Guam.
The value of imports is estimated at $168 million (1996). FSM imports up to 40% of food products, manufactured goods, cars and other machines, oil products. Main import partners: USA, Australia and Japan.
Total length highways- 240 km., of which 42 km. have a hard coating. The main ports are Colonia (Yap), Colonia (Pohnpei), Lele, Moen. In 2002, there were 7 airports, of which 6 were paved.
Micronesia has 11 thousand telephone lines and 2 thousand Internet users, 6 radio and 2 television stations. The population owns 9.4 thousand radios and 2.8 thousand television sets.
The budget consists of taxes, exports of agricultural products, seafood, licensing of tuna fishing by foreign states in the maritime economic zone. Financial assistance from the United States helped to cover the excess of expenses over income. In accordance with the agreement on "free association", in 1986-2001 the United States provided financial and technical assistance in the total amount of 1.3 billion dollars. By agreement in 2002, this assistance was significantly reduced. External debt 53.1 million dollars. Monetary unit - US dollar.
SOCIETY AND CULTURE
Education.
According to the FSM constitution, education is financed from the central and regional budgets. Primary and secondary schools are owned by the state and religious missions. State governments provide primary education and teacher training, while central governments support and coordinate education at all levels. Young people receive vocational education at the Micronesian College in Palikir (opened in 1972, it has faculties of business, pedagogy, applied arts, etc.), the Micronesian vocational center on the island of Kosrai, at the schools of agriculture and trade on Pohnpei, the Javier Higher School on Chuuk, and also in US educational institutions (on the mainland, Guam and the Hawaiian Islands).
Healthcare.
Medical assistance to the population is carried out in full by state medical institutions. True, in recent years, a private dental and medical practice has appeared on Pohnpei Island. The FSM government recruits doctors for the Public Health Program through the US National Health Service and the United Nations Development Program. It also implements various health, nutrition and sanitation programs. World Organization(WHO), the United Nations International Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the South Pacific Commission (STC). There are hospitals in every state, several dispensaries and more than 100 dispensaries operate in the country. In difficult cases, patients are sent to hospitals on the island of Guam and the Hawaiian Islands.
Culture.
The traditional culture of the FSM population is all-Micronesian (with the exception of the culture of the two Polynesian atolls of Nukuoro and Kapingamaranga). However, it has undergone significant changes over several centuries of foreign domination. But even at present, on many islands, there are houses of local pillar construction without walls, the function of which is performed by gable roofs that reach the ground, covered palm leaves or mats. Micronesians still master the art of making wooden boats without a single metal nail. Leaders play a significant role in the public life of the FSM. Perhaps the most conservative was the Yap culture (folklore, dances, houses on stone foundations under palm leaves, loincloths for men and puffy skirts made of vegetable fibers for women).
Intensive contacts in recent decades with the Western world have changed the mentality of the young generation of FSM citizens, who are no longer guided by traditional values, but strive to join the achievements of Western civilization.
STORY
The ancestors of the Micronesians settled the Caroline Islands more than 4 thousand years ago. Over the centuries, two social groups have developed in Micronesian society - "noble" and "simple"; the former did not engage in physical labor and differed from the latter in special tattoos and decorations. At the head of the territorial associations were leaders (tomol), but their power was not the same on different islands. Remains found on Temen Island (Pohnpei State) ancient civilization The stone city of Nan Madol. It consisted of monumental structures erected on reefs - platforms built of coral rubble and lined with basalt slabs. Residential and temple complexes, buried the dead and performed various rituals. According to legends, the city was the center of the vast Saudeler power and was destroyed by the conquerors, after which Pohnpei broke up into five territorial entities. Similar monuments were found on Lelu island (Kosrae state). On the island of Yap in later times, apparently, there was a centralized state formation, which had economic and religious functions. Tribute was collected from conquered tribes. The first Europeans found on Yap one- and two-tier platforms with temples and men's houses, as well as original money in the form of large stone disks with a hole in the center.
The Caroline Islands were discovered by European navigators in the 16th and 17th centuries. In 1526 di Menezighi discovered the Yap Islands, and in 1528 Alvaro Saavedra first saw the Truk Islands (modern Chuuk). In 1685, Captain Francisco Lazeano again discovered the island of Yap and named the island Caroline (after the king of Spain, Charles II). Later, this name was transferred to the entire archipelago, which was declared the possession of the Spanish crown. However, the discovery of its islands continued in subsequent years. The first Spanish Catholic missionaries, who arrived in 1710 on the Sonsorol Islands and in 1731 on the Ulithi Atoll, were killed by the islanders, and the Spanish abandoned their attempts to colonize the Caroline Islands until the 1870s.
From the end of the 18th century the archipelago began to be visited by commercial and scientific British, French and even Russian ships. So, in 1828, the Russian navigator F.P. Litke discovered the islands of Ponape (Pohnpei), Ant and Pakin and named them in honor of Admiral D.N. Senyavin. Since 1830, American whalers have often come here. In the 1820s and 1830s, British sailors lived on Pohnpei, shipwrecked while carrying an English missionary on Kosrai. In 1852, American evangelists founded a Protestant mission on the Pohnpei and Kosrae islands. German and English traders began to penetrate the archipelago.
In 1869, Germany founded a trading station on Yap, which became the center of the German trading network in Micronesia and Samoa. In 1885, the German authorities announced their claims to the Caroline Islands, which Spain considered its own. Thanks to the mediation of the Pope, a German-Spanish treaty was concluded, recognizing the archipelago as Spanish possession, but giving German merchants the right to establish trading posts and plantations on them. Spanish soldiers and missionaries arrived on the islands, but they met fierce resistance on Pohnpei. The islanders rebelled and destroyed the plantations.
After the defeat in the war with the United States, Spain in 1898 agreed to cede the Caroline and Mariana Islands to Germany. From 1906 they were ruled from German New Guinea. The German colonial authorities introduced general labor service for adult islanders and began extensive road construction. In response, the people of Pohnpei rebelled and killed the governor of Beder. The uprising was suppressed by the German fleet only in 1911. In the autumn of 1914, Micronesia was occupied Japanese troops.
Japan officially received a League of Nations mandate to govern Micronesia only in 1921. It used the territory of the Caroline Islands for economic purposes (fishing, production of flour from cassava and alcohol from sugar cane), to create naval and air bases. In relation to the indigenous population, Japan pursued a policy of forced assimilation. Tens of thousands of Japanese were resettled on the islands, to whom the best lands. There were Japanese settlements. Traces of Japanese domination are preserved in the appearance of the Carolinians, in their language and names.
Since 1944, bloody battles began on the islands between American and Japanese troops. By 1945, Japanese forces were expelled from Micronesia, the archipelago came under the control of the US military authorities, and in 1947 the Caroline Islands (together with the Marianas and Marshalls) became a United Nations trust territory administered by the United States - the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (PTTO). In 1947-1951, the territory was under the jurisdiction of the US Department of the Navy, then it was transferred to the control of the civil administration of the US Department of the Interior. In 1962, administrative bodies were transferred from the island of Guam to the island of Saipan (Marian Islands). The Council of Micronesia was created in 1961, but all power remained in the hands of the American High Commissioner. In 1965, the first elections to the Congress of Micronesia were held. In 1967, Congress created the Commission on the Future Political Status, which recommended seeking independence or establishing "free association" relations with the United States with full internal self-government. Since 1969, negotiations have been held between representatives of the Congress of Micronesia and the United States.
On July 12, 1978, the population of the districts of Truk (Chuuk), Ponape (Pohnpei), Yap and Kusaiye (Kosrae) voted in a referendum for the creation of the Federated States of Micronesia. The Marianas, Marshall Islands and Palau refused to enter the new state. On May 10, 1979, the FSM Constitution was adopted, and in the autumn the first elections were held for the National Congress, as well as for the governors of four states. The former president of the Congress of Micronesia, Toshivo Nakayama, took office in January 1980.
During 1979–1986, the United States consistently transferred administrative functions to the new head of state and government. FSM foreign policy and defense issues remained the prerogative of the United States. In 1983, the population in a referendum approved the status of "free association" with the United States. On November 3, 1985, the PTTO was officially dissolved and the US Trusteeship regime ended. On December 22, 1990, the UN Security Council approved the abolition of guardianship and the FSM became officially an independent state.
Micronesia in the late 20th - early 21st century
In 1991, President of Micronesia John Haglelgam (1987-1991), who lost the parliamentary elections, resigned as head of state. Bailey Olter (Pohnpei State) held the presidency from 1991-1996, Jacob Nena (Kosrae State) from 1996-1999, Leo Ami Falkam from 1999-2003, and Joseph John Urusemal from 2003. A draft constitutional amendment providing for the direct election of the president and vice president was rejected.
The country's main problems remain high unemployment, declining fish catches and a high degree of dependence on US aid.
The region where Micronesia is located differs in remoteness from the main transport routes, a small land area and a huge area of \u200b\u200bwater area that separates the small lonely islands on which the state of the Federated States of Micronesia is located. The state is located in the western part of the Pacific Ocean, four thousand kilometers from Hawaiian Islands off the coast of New Guinea, with which it is located in the same economic region.
Where is Micronesia located?
The Federated States of Micronesia is located in Oceania, a region that, from a geopolitical point of view, consists of hundreds of fragmented islands. They are located and
Since these islands are located at a considerable distance from the main centers of industry and transport, and their small territories do not allow for a developed economy, they have to enter into close relations with more major states to create federal unions.
This is exactly what the Federated States of Micronesia did when they entered into "free association" with the United States. Such an alliance allows you to have stable incomes and security guarantees from the most powerful state on the planet.
Capital of Micronesia
It is worth noting that the States of Micronesia is part of the larger geographical region of Micronesia, which includes states such as Guam, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau and the Marshall Islands. In addition, they are adjacent to the US dependencies of Wake and Northern Territories. Mariana Islands.
As for the state of Micronesia, the form of government in which is a presidential republic, it has been formally considered independent since 1986. The capital of a sovereign state is the city of Palikir. Micronesia is one of the least populated countries in the region, and the population of the capital barely exceeds six thousand people.
Since the country has fairly close relations with the United States, state language in the country is English, although the locals also speak numerous island languages: Chuuk, Ponape, Kosiae. In addition, despite the significant influence of local cults on the life of the indigenous population, the vast majority of locals profess Christianity - Protestantism and Catholicism.
How to get to Micronesia?
Given the remoteness and also its large territories separating the individual islands of the archipelago, transport is of great importance, which, unfortunately, is not very well developed on the islands.
The islands' international airport is located in the capital of Micronesia, which is located on the largest of the islands, Pohnpei. This island is also the largest state of the state, and its administrative center is the city of Colonia, whose population is about six thousand people. Before Palikir became the capital of the state, these functions were performed by the city of Kolonia.
In general, it should be noted that transport infrastructure It is extremely poorly developed in the state, which hinders the construction of a productive tourism industry, although the country is in an extremely favorable climate, and its ecological situation is favorable. Even the capital of Micronesia has very clean air and high quality drinking water.
Domestic communication is carried out on small aviation or sea ferry service, however, it is not very regular due to the small number of passengers.
Nature of Micronesia
The capital of the country is located on one of the largest Caroline Islands. In total, there are more than six hundred islands in the archipelago, sixty of them are large, and inhabited sixty-five islands in all.
Despite the fact that the scattered islands, the small number of inhabitants and the almost complete absence of minerals create serious obstacles to building an economy, these same difficulties also provide certain advantages, including an impeccable state of the environment.
The nature of Micronesia is a virgin tropical forests located on the slopes of the mountains, towering over the turquoise waters of the Pacific Ocean.
Culture on the islands
The history of foreign domination over the islands goes back several centuries. The first Europeans to claim their rights to the island were the Spaniards, who opened the islands to the West in 1527, but for a long time the actual control over the archipelago European states did not carry out.
In 1885, Germany unexpectedly claimed its rights to the entire archipelago, but Spain protested and turned to an international mediator for help, which was chosen by Pope Leo XIII, who decided to leave the rights to the islands to the Spanish kingdom.
Between 1914 and the end of World War II, the islands were held by Japan, after which they were occupied by the United States under a guardianship that ended only in 1986, when the Federated States of Micronesia became a sovereign state. It was at this time that the form of government in Micronesia became a presidential republic.
The state of the Federated States of Micronesia consists of 607 small islands, of which only 40 are of significant size and only 65 are inhabited.
All major islands are of volcanic origin, they are mountainous, covered with forest and surrounded by coral reefs. Other islands - atolls(ring-shaped coral islands with a shallow lagoon inside).
The Federated States of Micronesia are located in the Caroline Islands in Oceania. Just like the Republic Marshall Islands, this state has the status of free association with the United States, i.e. highly dependent on US subsidies.
The islands are connected by sea and by air. There is a maritime connection with the US west coast, Japan, the Philippines, Taiwan, Guam and an air connection with Guam, Hawaii, Nauru.
State symbols of Micronesia
Flag- a blue flag and four stars on it, which symbolize the four states. Flag adopted 30 November 1978
Coat of arms- Seal of the Federated States of Micronesia. At the bottom of the seal is the motto: "Peace, unity, freedom."
Head of State and Government- President elected for 4 years. The constitution is modeled after the US Constitution.
Capital- Palikir.
Climate- equatorial and subequatorial, trade wind-monsoon type. It often rains heavily (April is the wettest month). The wettest month is April.
In the region of Micronesia, typhoons are born from August to December (up to 25 per year). Typhoons are characterized by destructive hurricane winds at a speed of 240 kilometers per hour.
Administrative division- the country consists of 4 states with their own governments: Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei (Ponape) and Yap. States have a high degree of independence in almost all spheres of public life.
Flora and fauna
The islands are covered with evergreen tropical forests; present savannas(spaces covered with herbaceous vegetation with sparsely scattered trees and shrubs); on large coral islands grow mainly coconut palms and pandanus.
Vegetable world on volcanic islands it is more diverse than on coral ones. The coasts of volcanic islands are often covered with mangroves.
On the islands of both types grow, in addition to the coconut palm and pandanus, breadfruit, bananas. From Europe and Asia, citrus fruits, cassava, sweet potato, various tropical fruit trees, chocolate tree, black pepper were brought here.
Fauna not very diverse: bats, rats (brought on ships by the first Europeans), lizards. But the fauna of the ocean is very diverse and rich: many species of fish, crustaceans, bivalves, dolphins, whales and dugongs are sometimes found.
Official language- English. Jap, Truk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae are also spoken.
Population– 110,000 people High level of emigration. Diverse ethnic composition.
Religion- Christianity: Catholics - 50%, Protestants - 47%, others - 3%.
Economy- based mainly on agriculture and fishing. Coconut palm, vegetables and fruits, bananas, tapioca, black pepper are cultivated. Pigs, goats, dogs (for meat), chickens are bred. Industrial activity consists mainly of agricultural processing, soap making, and boat making. Fish, copra, black pepper, bananas, souvenirs are exported (the main export is to Japan and the USA). Food and manufactured goods are imported.
Tourism not yet developed enough. The reason is the same as in other countries of Oceania: the remoteness of the islands, the lack of infrastructure and the underdevelopment of air communication with the outside world.
Currency- U.S. dollar.
Education- Primary and secondary schools belong to the state and religious missions. State governments provide primary education and teacher training, while central governments support and coordinate education at all levels. Young people receive vocational education at the Micronesian College in Palikir. It was opened in 1972, it has faculties of business, pedagogy, applied arts, etc. In addition, the country has a Micronesian professional center on the island of Kosrae, schools of agriculture and trade on Pohnpei, the Javier High School on Chuuk, as well as US educational institutions (on the mainland, o.Guam and the Hawaiian Islands).
Sport– The Federated States of Micronesia took part in the 3rd Summer Olympic Games (they made their debut at the Summer Olympics in Sydney in 2000). For the entire period of the country's participation in the Games, 12 athletes (7 men and 5 women) took part in competitions in athletics, swimming and weightlifting. The country has never participated in the Winter Olympics.
culture
The traditional culture of the country is all-Micronesian (with the exception of the culture of the two Polynesian atolls of Nukuoro and Kapingamarangi). But it is already under the strong influence of foreign cultures, tk. For several centuries, foreigners have dominated here. However, the Micronesians are trying to preserve their culture: in some areas they still build national houses, master the art of making wooden boats without metal nails. Leaders play a significant role in their public life.
The culture of the state of Yap remained the most conservative: folklore, dances, houses on stone foundations under palm leaves, loincloths for men and puffy skirts made of plant fibers for women have been preserved.
But the mentality of the younger generation of Micronesians has already changed a lot: they are increasingly focused on the achievements of Western civilization.
Attractions of Micronesia
Each state has its own attractions, as the nature of Micronesia is unique and diverse.
Despite the attachment of Micronesia to the economic and political interests of the United States, it lives by its traditional rules: here you can see people in loincloths, and stone coins go along with the dollar as a means of payment. Micronesians are proud of their past (their ancestors crossed the Pacific long before the Europeans arrived here) and the present: the islands have the best conditions in the world for diving, snorkeling(a type of swimming under the surface of the water with a mask and snorkel, usually with fins) and surfing. In addition to the marine fauna, the islands are famous for a huge variety of sea birds (more than 200 species).
Kosra Island (Kosrae)
Quiet place in Micronesia. The area of the island is 109 sq. km, around the volcanic interior with wild tropical forests, ancient barrier reef and beautiful coast, which is formed by the combination of sandy shores and mangrove swamps.
The islanders show a friendly interest in tourists. Although the outskirts of the massive royal castle-city have been destroyed (Chief Kosra was the dominant regional ruler), the remaining ruins give a sense of the power and grandeur of the ancient city.
The highest point of the island is Lelu Hill, here is a whole cluster of caves and tunnels used by the Japanese during the Second World War.
Close to the shore - untouched Coral reefs, which are the best place for diving - underwater visibility here often exceeds 30 m, and in summer even more than 60 m.
Pohnpei Island
Small volcanic island in Micronesia (an area of 345 sq. km, which is a decent size compared to other islands of the state). A rectangular island framed by picturesque bays and narrow peninsulas. Coastline is a tidal beach and is covered with mangroves.
The main city of the island Colonia, large by island standards locality, but retaining a colorful provincial character. The small town of Palikir, just 8 km away, is the capital of Micronesia. Pohnpei Airport and most of the island's hotels and restaurants are located in Kolonia.
ancient stone city Nan Madol lies on almost 100 artificial islands off the southeast coast of Pohnpei. Nan Madol was built from colossal basalt blocks during the tyrannical Saudeler dynasty, which reached its peak in the 13th century.
The outer walls of the city reached 8 m in height, and on the inside they contained crypts. Though many of Nan Madol's temples, vaults, and reservoirs have been destroyed, the city draws on its inner strength.
The most famous natural monument of Pohnpei is the picturesque Sohes Rock - a 180 m basalt cliff that resembles a human face.
Yap Islands
The state of Yap includes 4 islands (Yap, Maap, Gagil-Tamil, Rumung) with a total area of 105.4 km² with a population of about 8 thousand people. This place is interesting because old traditions and way of life have been preserved here: the buildings in the villages are still built from wood, straw, ropes and bamboo.
The caste system has been preserved in the society, where leading role elders and leaders of the village play, and stone money, similar to millstones, is still hard currency along with the American dollar. The largest ones are 3 meters in diameter, 0.5 meters thick and weigh 4 tons.
Chuuk Islands (formerly Truk)
A colorful island that attracts tourists with its nature and history. Archaeological evidence confirms that the Chuuk Islands were inhabited about 2,000 years ago. Initially, the locals settled only on the coast and were engaged in pottery, but about 1500 years ago this culture disappeared, and the islanders moved to the hinterland and mountainous slopes.
During the Second World War, the islands hosted a major naval military base Japan. On February 17, 1944, the Americans launched Operation Hillston, which resulted in the sinking of more than 30 large and many small Japanese ships. Subsequently, control of Truk passed to the US Army.
The sunken ships and planes of Japan have created a kind of "underwater museum" - evidence of a naval disaster. Some of the transports are filled with weapons, trucks and fighter planes, the crew members are still buried in the sea...
History of Micronesia
It is believed that the Micronesians arrived on these islands from Asia in the 2nd millennium BC. e. - This is evidenced by the Nan Madol complex on the island of Ponape.
But by the time the colonization of the islands by Europeans began, the population was at the stage of decomposition of the primitive communal system.
The Spaniards discovered the Caroline Islands in 1527. In the 17th century. Spain claimed the Carolinas as its possession, but no actual control over the archipelago was established. And only in 1885 Germany announced its claims to the Caroline Islands. Spain turned to international arbitration, and Pope Leo XIII, elected as arbitrator, awarded the islands to Spain.
In 1899 Germany bought the Caroline Islands from Spain.
During the First World War in 1914 Japan captured the islands. The Japanese created large sugar plantations there, and the policy of resettling the Japanese in the Carolinas was actively pursued. locals subjected to forced assimilation by the Japanese.
During the Second World War, the Carolinas were occupied by the United States, which in 1947 received a UN mandate for this.
In 1978, the Caroline Islands received the status of a "territory freely associated with the United States."
The Federated States of Micronesia became a sovereign state in free association of the United States on November 3, 1986.
Geography
Geographic device
Geographically, Micronesia is divided into:
Of these, the Western Carolinas and the Marianas are volcanic. The largest of the Marianas is the island of Guam, the capital is Aganya. Locals divide the archipelago into two parts - Ratak (sunrise islands) and Ralik (sunset islands).
The largest atolls: Bikini (Eshsholts), Rongelap (Rimsky-Korsakov), Maloelap (Arakcheeva), Majuro, Enewetok (Brown), Kusaie, Uliti, Tarawa and others, as well as the Senyavina Islands (the largest of them is Ponape) and the Truk Islands . Some of them have two names, including Russian ones. This is the memory of the Russian expedition led by Otto Kotzebue.
State structure
Micronesia is currently divided into several states.
Micronesia in video games
Apparently, because of the size of the islands, Micronesia really liked the creators of the games Crysis and Far Cry: the action of these games takes place there.
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An excerpt characterizing Micronesia
- Have you ever thought about marrying your prodigal son Anatole? They say, she said, that old maids are ont la manie des Marieiages. [they have a mania for marriage.] I still do not feel this weakness behind me, but I have one petite personne [little lady], who is very unhappy with her father, une parente a nous, une princesse [our relative, princess] Bolkonskaya. - Prince Vasily did not answer, although with the speed of thought and memory characteristic of secular people, he showed with a movement of his head that he had taken this information into consideration.“No, do you know that this Anatole costs me 40,000 a year,” he said, apparently unable to restrain his sad train of thought. He paused.
– What will happen in five years if it goes like this? Voila l "avantage d" etre pere. [Here is the benefit of being a father.] Is she rich, your princess?
“My father is very rich and stingy. He lives in the village. You know, this well-known prince Bolkonsky, who was retired under the late emperor and nicknamed the Prussian king. He is a very intelligent man, but odd and heavy. La pauvre petite est malheureuse, comme les pierres. [The poor thing is as unhappy as stones.] She has a brother, that's what recently married Lise Meinen, Kutuzov's adjutant. He will be with me today.
- Ecoutez, chere Annette, [Listen, dear Annette,] - said the prince, suddenly taking his interlocutor by the hand and bending her down for some reason. - Arrangez moi cette affaire et je suis votre [Arrange this business for me, and I'm yours forever] the most faithful slave a tout jamais pan, comme mon headman m "ecrit des [as my headman writes to me] reports: rest er n !. She is good surname and rich.All I need.
And he, with those free and familiar, graceful movements that distinguished him, took the lady-in-waiting by the hand, kissed her and, kissing her, waved the lady-in-waiting hand, lounging on an armchair and looking away.
- Attendez [Wait], - said Anna Pavlovna, thinking. - I'll talk to Lise today (la femme du jeune Bolkonsky). [with Lisa (wife of the young Bolkonsky).] And maybe this will be settled. Ce sera dans votre famille, que je ferai mon apprentissage de vieille fille. [In your family, I will begin to learn the trade of the old girl.]
Anna Pavlovna's drawing room began to gradually fill up. The highest nobility of St. Petersburg arrived, people of the most heterogeneous in age and character, but the same in the society in which everyone lived; the daughter of Prince Vasily, the beautiful Helen, arrived, who had called in for her father to go with him to the feast of the envoy. She was in cypher and a ball gown. Also known as la femme la plus seduisante de Petersbourg [the most charming woman in St. Petersburg], the young, little princess Bolkonskaya, who got married last winter and now did not go out to the big world because of her pregnancy, but went on small evenings, also arrived. Prince Hippolyte, son of Prince Vasily, arrived with Mortemar, whom he introduced; Abbé Morio and many others also came.
- You haven't seen it yet? or: - you don't know ma tante [with my aunt]? - Anna Pavlovna said to the visiting guests and very seriously led them to a little old woman in high bows, who floated out of another room, as soon as the guests began to arrive, she called them by name, slowly shifting her eyes from the guest to ma tante [aunt], and then departed.
All the guests performed the ceremony of greeting an unknown, uninteresting and unnecessary aunt to no one. Anna Pavlovna followed their greetings with sad, solemn sympathy, tacitly approving them. Ma tante spoke to everyone in the same terms about his health, about her health and about the health of Her Majesty, which today was, thank God, better. All those who approached, out of decency not showing haste, with a sense of relief from the heavy duty they had performed, moved away from the old woman, so that they would not go up to her all evening.
The young Princess Bolkonskaya arrived with work in an embroidered gold velvet bag. Her pretty, with a slightly blackened mustache, her upper lip was short in teeth, but it opened all the nicer and stretched out even more nicely sometimes and fell on the lower one. As is always the case with quite attractive women, her shortcomings—the shortness of her lips and her half-open mouth—seemed to be her special, actually her beauty. It was fun for everyone to look at this pretty mother-to-be, full of health and liveliness, who so easily endured her situation. It seemed to the old men and the bored, gloomy young people who looked at her that they themselves were becoming like her after spending some time talking with her. Anyone who spoke to her and saw at every word her bright smile and shining white teeth, which were constantly visible, thought that he was especially amiable today. And that's what everyone thought.
The little princess, waddling, walked around the table with small quick steps with a work bag on her arm and, gaily straightening her dress, sat down on the sofa, near the silver samovar, as if everything she did was part de plaisir [entertainment] for her and for everyone those around her.
- J "ai apporte mon ouvrage [I grabbed the job]," she said, unfolding her purse and addressing everyone together.
“Look, Annette, ne me jouez pas un mauvais tour,” she turned to the hostess. - Vous m "avez ecrit, que c" etait une toute petite soiree; voyez, comme je suis attifee. [Don't play a bad joke on me; you wrote to me that you had a very small evening. See how badly I'm dressed.]
And she spread her hands to show her, in lace, an elegant gray dress, girded with a wide ribbon a little below her breasts.
- Soyez tranquille, Lise, vous serez toujours la plus jolie [Be calm, you will be the best], - answered Anna Pavlovna.
- Vous savez, mon mari m "abandonne," she continued in the same tone, addressing the general, "il va se faire tuer. Dites moi, pourquoi cette vilaine guerre, [You know, my husband is leaving me. Going to his death. Say , why this nasty war,] - she said to Prince Vasily and, without waiting for an answer, turned to the daughter of Prince Vasily, to the beautiful Helen.
- Quelle delicieuse personne, que cette petite princesse! [What a charming person this little princess is!] - said Prince Vasily quietly to Anna Pavlovna.
Shortly after the little princess, a massive, stout young man with a cropped head, wearing spectacles, light trousers in the fashion of the time, with a high frill, and in a brown tailcoat, entered. This fat young man was the illegitimate son of the famous Catherine's nobleman, Count Bezukhoi, who was now dying in Moscow. He had not served anywhere yet, had just arrived from abroad, where he had been brought up, and was for the first time in society. Anna Pavlovna greeted him with a bow, which belonged to the people of the lowest hierarchy in her salon. But, despite this inferior greeting, at the sight of Pierre entering, Anna Pavlovna displayed anxiety and fear, similar to that which is expressed at the sight of something too huge and unusual for a place. Although, indeed, Pierre was somewhat larger than the other men in the room, this fear could only relate to that intelligent and at the same time timid, observant and natural look that distinguished him from everyone in this living room.
