Micronesia ( ancient Greek μ micro "and νῆσος " islands ") is a generalized name for groups of small islands of Oceania . It consists of the Gilbert Islands , the Mariana Islands, the Marshall and others (more than 1,500 islands in total). The total land area in Micronesia is very small, the population is also very small. But there are very large marine economic zones.
The following states and dependent territories are located in Micronesia:
- Nauru
- Gilbert Islands ( Kiribati )
- Marshall Islands ( USA )
- Federated States of Micronesia ( USA )
- Palau ( USA )
- Guam ( USA )
- Northern Mariana Islands ( USA )
Content
Geography
Micronesia includes about 1,500 islands with a total area of more than 2.6 thousand km² (according to BES data from 1997).
Geographical device
Geographically, Micronesia is divided into:
- Marshall Islands
- Caroline Islands
- Mariana Islands
- Kiribati Islands
- Nauru Island
Of these, the Western Carolins and the Mariana Islands are volcanic. The largest of the Mariana - the island of Guam, the capital - Agana. Locals divide the archipelago into two parts - Ratak (islands of sunrise) and Ralik (islands of sunsets).
The largest atolls are Bikini (Essholz), Rongelap (Rimsky-Korsakov), Maloelap (Arakcheeva), Majuro, Eniwetok (Brown), Kusiae, Uliti, Tarawa, and others, as well as Senyavin Island (the largest of them is Ponape) and Truk Island . Some of them have two names, including Russian. This is the memory of the Russian expedition under the leadership of Otto Kotzebue.
Currently, Micronesia is divided into several states.
The Federated States of Micronesia is 4 states ( Pohnpei , Kusaie , Chuuk , Yap ), located on the islands of the same name and nearby groups of islands: Kusaie and Pohnpei , and the groups of Yap and Chuuk (Truk) islands. Population - 107, 9 thousand people. ( 2008 ). Capital - Palikir on about. Pohnpei (formerly. Ponape), 7 thousand people. The official language is English. Holidays: November 3 - Independence Day. Exports copra, pepper, fish, coconut oil, handicrafts. Freely associated with the United States.
Marshall Islands . Population - 56.4 thousand people. (2003). Capital - Majuro , 25, 4 thousand people. (2004). Languages - Marshall and English. Religion - Protestantism and Catholicism. Exports: copra, coconut oil, fish, corals, handicrafts. Discovered in 1529 by the Spaniard A. Saavedra, then explored by Gilbert and Marshall. Holidays: May 1 - Constitution Day.
Kiribati - 33 coral islands in an area of 5 million square meters. km These are the groups of Gilbert Islands, Phoenix , Line , Fr. Banaba (former Ocean). The population is 98 thousand people. (2009). The capital is South Tarawa , 40, 3 thousand people. (2005), on the atoll of Tarawa. The highest point is Summit, 81 m. The official language is English, but everyone speaks Kiribati (Tungaruan). Religions - Protestantism , Catholicism. The first to visit the islands was Kyros in 1606 , and D. Byron, D. Gilbert and D. Marshall investigated. The name in honor of the Gilbert Islands gave Krusenstern. Fauna is represented only by birds and insects. Export: copra , fish. Holidays: July 21 - Independence Day.
Palau (Belau) - consists of 328 islands, with a total area of 458 square meters. km., the largest - Babeltaup , the highest point - 217 m. Population - 20, 9 thousand people. (2008). The capital is Ngerulmud on Babeltuap Island, with a population of 391 people. The official language is English, Palauan. Religions - Catholicism, Protestantism. Inhabited from 200 only 8 islands. The fauna is represented by small rodents, lizards, birds and insects. Holidays: October 1 - Independence Day. The first Europeans on the islands were the Spaniards in the XVII century. In 1889 , the islands were sold to Germany. Exports include copra and tuna.
Nauru - a single coral island , raised atoll . Forms the state of Nauru . An area of 21 km². Population - 11, 3 thousand people. (2009). He has no official capital, the country's government is located in Yaren district. The official languages are English and Nauru . Until recently, the basis of the economy is the extraction of phosphorites . Holidays: October 26 - Angam day .
Northern Mariana Islands . The population is 86, 6 thousand people. The capital is Saipan , 62.4 thousand inhabitants (2000). The highest point is 965 m. The official language is English. Religion - Catholicism . Opened by Magellan, until the end of the XIX century. remained a Spanish colony, in 1899 sold to Germany, now - the possession of the United States. Exports: consumer goods, food.
Guam is a large island from the Mariana group; plateau up to 405 m high. US ownership. Population 173,5 thousand people. (2007). Capital - Hagatna , 1, 1 thousand people. (2000). Languages - English, Chamorro . Governor governs. Religion - Catholicism. Exports: clothing, beverages, tobacco, electronics. Holidays: Monday 1 March - Guam Day, March 21 - Liberation Day. The island was discovered by Magellan on March 6, 1521. From 1565 - the colony of Spain, from 1898 - US possession.
History
Micronesians settled Micronesia several thousand years ago. In the XVI century, almost all of Micronesia became a colony of Spain . In the XIX century, Nauru became a German colony, and the Gilbert Islands - the British. In 1898 , after the Spanish-American War, the island of Guam passed to the USA, and the rest of the Spanish Micronesia went to Germany . In 1914 , Germanic Micronesia was captured by Japan (only the island of Nauru, administratively belonging to New German Guinea , was occupied by Australia ). After the end of World War II, all Japanese were evicted from Micronesia; former Japanese possessions became the trust territory of the United Nations under US administration (see Trust Territory Pacific Islands ). In the 1950s , the United States conducted nuclear tests here. By now, all of Micronesia, except Guam, has become independent.
Geology
The islands of Micronesia are divided into low coral (3-5 m above sea level) and higher volcanic (Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei , Kusai ).
Micronesia in computer games
Apparently, because of the size of the islands, Micronesia really liked the creators of games Crysis and Far Cry : the action of these games takes place there.
Interesting Facts
- The largest money in the world in the form of stone circles (the largest: 3 m in diameter, 0.5 m thick and weighs 4 tons) was found on Yap island [1] .
- In Micronesia in the 1950s, the United States conducted its nuclear tests .
- Citizens of the Russian Federation can visit Micronesia for up to 30 days without obtaining a visa [2] .
- Citizens of Micronesia have the right to live and work in the United States [3] .
Notes
Literature
- Malakhovsky KV. Last Trust: (History of Micronesia) . - M .: Science , 1977. - 144, [4] with. - ( Countries and Nations ). - 33 500 copies