Language: English (local languages)
Currency: United States dollar
Calling code: 691
The Federated States of Micronesia is an island
country, one of the four that make up Micronesia and one of the
fourteen that make up Oceania. Its capital is Palikir. Located in
the center of Micronesia, it borders the southeast with Indonesia,
the south with Papua New Guinea, the southwest with Nauru and
Kiribati, the north with the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam, the
northeast with the Marshall Islands, and the east with Palau, with
who forms the archipelago of the Caroline Islands.
Its form of government is the democratic federal republic.
Administratively, it is made up of four states - from west to east:
Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae - scattered along the Pacific Ocean.
Likewise, the states comprise around 607 islands that cover a
longitudinal distance of 2,700 kilometers, north of the terrestrial
equator.
The country has a land area of 702 square kilometers; however, its
exclusive economic zone extends for more than 2 600 000 square
kilometers, which is similar in size to the territory of Kazakhstan
and limits: to the southwest, with the island of Nueva Guinea; to
the north with the Mariana Islands; to the east, with Nauru and the
Marshall Islands and to the west with Palau and the Philippines.
They are located about 2900 kilometers north of Australia and about
4,000 kilometers west of Hawaii. Each of its four states is located
around one or more main islands, and all but Kosrae include numerous
atolls. The country is generally known by the term "Micronesia",
although it can refer to both the independent State and the
geographical region.
The first European explorers who arrived to the islands of Micronesia were Portuguese, although Spanish navigators explored them widely, baptizing them with the name of "Carolinas", in honor of king Carlos II of Spain. The Spanish Empire was the first to exercise effective sovereignty over the archipelago, from the Captaincy General of the Philippines. With the end of the Spanish-American War, Spain sold the islands to the German Empire and during the First World War were occupied by the Empire of Japan. After the Second World War, the territory was constituted in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, a United Nations trust granted to the United States of America. On May 10, 1979, the trust adopted a constitution, achieving independence on December 22, 1990, after the signing of a Free Association Agreement with the USA .
Medieval ruins of Nan Madol are constructed on a series of islands similar to Italian Venice.
The countless islands are mostly undeveloped and their
sheer remoteness and Robinson Crusoe-like atmosphere are a big draw for
visitors. All around there is a magnificent sea view, and the scenic
beauty of the islands ranges from beautiful beaches to lush jungles.
There is a world of colors under the water and if you are ready to dive,
there are some great opportunities to see the underwater life.
The ruined city of Nan Madol on Pohnpei is a real highlight and the
place of ancient rituals, politics and royal residences of the Saudeleur
dynasty. It is a cluster of 92 artificial islands connected by tidal
channels, which gave it the obvious name Venice of the Pacific. It is a
magnificent archaeological attraction that stretches over 18 km2,
partially reclaimed by nature. There are huge basalt columns and stone
structures that create an image of the temples, bathhouses, vaults and
pools that once formed the center of life here for centuries.
Later, but still quite old, are the ruins of Lelu, which are connected
to Kosrae by a dam. Built in the 13th and 14th centuries, this was the
center of the local royal house. Today it is the stuff for adventure
films: hidden in the dense jungle and largely overgrown. The original
purpose of some of the remaining structures is well known, and signs on
the spot help to get a good idea.
The main island of Yap is
famous for its stone money, which is still used today for ceremonial
gifts or payments. These sometimes huge "coins" made of stone are a
sight in themselves. Stroll to the village of Balabat to see the stone
money box and look out for traditional houses. Although present on most
of the islands, the village of Bechiyal is home to Yap's oldest Faluw
(or men's house). Yap is also the place to see the best indigenous arts
of the region as it houses the excellent Ethnic Art Village.
1
Nan Madol, a ruined city on 92 artificially created islands on a coral
reef off Temwen Island, a side island of Pohnpei in the Caroline
Archipelago.
2 Lelu . Ruins dating back to 1400, when the inhabitants
of Lelu conquered and politically united the main island. The ruined
city houses large megalithic buildings made of basalt and served as a
ritual center and residence of the political-religious elite.
Aircraft
The most important airline with which you
can reach Micronesia is United Airlines, which offers an island hopping
flight on the route Honolulu–Majuro–Kwajalein–Kosrae–Pohnpei–Chuuk–Guam
and back almost every day. The flight takes about 14 hours, depending on
the exact route, with about one-hour stops on each island.
Honolulu is the main access from North America and Guam is the main
access from Asia and Australia, and the islands can also be reached from
Manila via Palau.
Ship
The main international ports are Chuuk,
Pohnpei and Yap. From these, merchant ships also go to the more remote
islands.
Bus: There is no regular bus service on the islands,
but in some cases you can rent buses. There is a school bus on Yap that
runs twice a day between Colonia and the villages. This is also used for
the general public on special occasions, such as on Yap Day.
Taxi: Cheap taxis are available on the islands.
Car rental:
Self-driving cars are available in the most important cities. You need a
national or international driving license.
There are seven official languages in the Federated States of Micronesia: English, Yapese, Chuukese, Ulithi, Woleaian, Pohnpean and Corsaean.
As usual elsewhere, you should book accommodation in small islands with few hotels in advance for safety reasons. Hotel lists can be found, for example, on the pages of the tourist offices listed below.
The name Micronesia - "small island" comes from the ancient Greek words "mikros" - "small" and "nesos" - "island", the ending -iya is usually for the names of countries and territories; motivated by the small size of the islands in this part of the ocean. Used since the first half of the 19th century.
The Federated States of Micronesia are located in
Micronesia and are located in the northwestern part of Oceania, in the
archipelago of the Caroline Islands, between 0 and 14 ° N. sh. and 136
and 166° E. at a distance of about 4000 km southwest of the Hawaiian
Islands.
They are a state consisting of 607 small islands, only
40 of which are of considerable size. Of the 607 islands, 65 are
inhabited. FSM consists of four states: Yap, Chuuk (formerly Truk),
Pohnpei (formerly Ponape) and Kosrae (formerly Kusae). The capital is
the city of Palikir on about. Pohnpei. Although the total land area in
the country is only 702 km², the exclusive economic zone in the Pacific
Ocean covers more than 2.6 million km². Each of the four states is made
up of one or more "high islands" usually of volcanic origin, and all but
Kosrae include numerous atolls. Chuuk State - the total area is 127 km²
and includes seven main groups of islands. Pohnpei State covers an area
of 344 km² of which 130 is Pohnpei Island, the largest in FSM. Yap
State consists of 4 large islands, seven small islands and 134 atolls,
with a total land area of 122 km². Kosrae State is one high island
with an area of 109 km².
All large islands of volcanic origin
are mountainous, covered with forests, surrounded by coral reefs. Others
are atolls - ring-shaped coral islands, inside containing a shallow
lagoon.
The highest point is Mount Nana Laud (on Pohnpei Island,
height 798 m). Main languages: English (official), Japanese, Truk,
Pohnpei, Kosrae.
The islands are interconnected by sea and air.
There is a maritime connection with the US west coast, Japan, the
Philippines, Taiwan, Guam and an air connection with Guam, Hawaii,
Nauru.
The climate is equatorial and subequatorial, trade
wind-monsoon type. Seasonal temperature fluctuations are insignificant.
Average monthly temperatures are 26-33 °C. It often rains heavily here.
The wettest month is April. Precipitation falls from 2250 mm to
3000-6000 mm (in the mountains on the island of Kusape) per year. Part
of the Pacific Ocean, where Micronesia is located, is an area where
typhoons originate, with an average of up to 25 typhoons per year.
Typhoon season is from August to December.
Evergreen tropical
forests, savannahs; the large coral islands are dominated by coconut
palm and pandanus.
In all likelihood, Micronesians began to arrive on
these islands from Asia in the second millennium BC. e. The monument of
the pre-colonial period of history is the Nan Madol complex, located on
the island of Ponape.
By the time the colonization of the islands
by Europeans began, the local population was at the stage of
decomposition of the primitive communal system. The society was
subdivided into a number of social groups unequal in their position. On
some island groups, large territorial associations arose, although
states had not yet been created.
The Caroline Islands were
discovered by the Spaniards in 1527. In the 17th century, Spain declared
the Carolinas its possession, but the actual control over the
archipelago was not established. In 1885, Germany announced its claims
to the Caroline Islands, and the German flag was hoisted on one of the
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. They were incorporated
into the colony of German New Guinea. The intervention of the German
colonial authorities in the traditional social hierarchy and the use of
forced labor led in 1910 to an uprising of the inhabitants of Sokekhs,
an island in the archipelago of the Eastern Caroline Islands.
During the First World War in 1914, the islands were captured by Japan,
after the end of the war, under the Treaty of Versailles, the islands
were given to Japan as a mandated territory. The Japanese created large
sugar plantations there, and the policy of resettling the Japanese in
the Carolinas was actively pursued. Local residents were subjected to
forced assimilation by the Japanese.
During World War II, the
Carolinas were occupied by the United States, which since 1947 ruled
them under a UN mandate as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands.
In 1979, the Caroline Islands received the status of a
"territory freely associated with the United States" (the agreement was
signed in 1982).
Since November 3, 1986, the Federated States of
Micronesia has been a sovereign state in free association with the
United States. This status means that the United States is responsible
for the defense of this state and undertakes to subsidize it
financially.
Population - 103 643 people. (July 2018).
Annual
decline - 0.55% (high level of emigration from the country).
Birth
rate - 19.6 people. per 1000 people (fertility - 2.8 births per woman).
Mortality - 4.2 people. per 1000 people
Emigration - 20.9 people. per
1000 people
Average life expectancy is 71.3 years for men and 75.6
years for women.
Ethnic composition: Chuuk - 49.3%, Ponape - 29.8%,
Kosrae - 6.3%, Yap - 5.7%, Yap of the outer islands - 5.1%, Polynesians
- 1.6%, Asians - 1 .4%, others - about 0.8% (according to the 2010
census).
Languages: English (official and inter-ethnic
communication), 8 local languages.
Religions (2016): Catholics -
54.7% (56,230 people), Protestants - 38.5% (39,546 people), Mormons -
1.5% (1586 people), Baptists - 1.1% (1145 people), others - 4.2%.
Literacy of the population - 89%
Micronesia is a federal state consisting of 4 states
with their own governments: Chuuk (formerly Truk), Kosrae, Pohnpei
(Ponape) and Yap. States have a high degree of independence in almost
all spheres of public life.
The 1979 Constitution is in effect,
modeled after the US Constitution.
According to the form of
government, the FSM is a republic of a special type. The political
regime is democratic. There are no political parties.
Legislative
power belongs to the federal unicameral parliament - the FSM Congress,
consisting of 14 senators (4 senators are elected one from each state
for a term of 4 years, 10 in single-member districts with an
approximately equal number of voters for a term of 2 years).
The
head of state and government is the President, elected by the members of
the FSM Congress from among 4 senators from the states for a term of 4
years. At the same time, the Vice President is elected.
The state
structure of the states is established by their own constitutions and is
generally similar to the federal one.
There are no armed forces.
GDP - $ 350 million (2018), GDP per capita in 2018 - $
3.2 thousand. Poverty rate - 16% (2018).
Economic activities are
mainly agriculture and fishing. Cultivated coconut palm, vegetables and
fruits, bananas, tapioca, black pepper. Pigs, goats, dogs (for meat),
chickens are bred.
Industry - processing of agricultural
products, soap factories, sawmills, boat manufacturing.
Exports
in 2017 ($29.8 million) - mainly frozen fish (up to 85% of the value),
other fish and seafood (about 7.3%). Top buyers: China 38%, Philippines
26%, Japan 23%.
Imports in 2017 ($155 million) - fuel (up to 32%
of the total value), machinery and equipment (up to 24%), food and other
finished goods and products (mainly from South Korea (33%), USA ( 22%),
China (17%) and Japan (13%).
The islands have no mineral
resources other than phosphates. There is potential for the tourism
business, but its development is hampered by the remoteness of the
islands, the lack of appropriate structures and the underdevelopment of
air links with the outside world.
Under the terms of the
agreement on free association, the United States allocated $1.3 billion
to the FSM between 1986 and 2001. Then the amount of annual assistance
was reduced, but constant multimillion-dollar cash receipts from the
United States were promised until 2023.
It is a member of the
international organization of ACT countries.
The Federated States of Micronesia is served by four
international airports.
Pohnpei International Airport, on the
main island of the state of Pohnpei.
Chuuk International Airport,
located on the main island of the state of Chuuk.
Kosrae
International Airport, located on the main island of the state of
Kosrae.
Yap International Airport, located on the main island of the
state of Yap.