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Micronesia Blog. We intent to bring you updates on the islands of Micronesia with travel offers provided by various travel partners around the world.
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Marshall Islands
[Marshal Islands map ]
The Marshall Islands are between Hawaii and the Philippines. It is an independent island country, with a population of 58,413 people. Marshallese and English are spoken in the island nation. Ninety-seven percent of the people are Christians.
The Marshall Islands is a democratic republic with an executive presidency in free association with the United States. The U.S. provides defense, subsidies, and access to U.S.-based agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission and the United States Postal Service.
In October 2011, the government declared that an area of nearly 2,000,000 square kilometers (772,000 sq mi) of the ocean shall be reserved as a shark sanctuary. This is the world’s largest shark sanctuary.
The Marshall Islands serve the international shipping industry as a flag of convenience for commercial vessels. The Marshallese registry started operations in 1990. The registry is managed through a joint venture with International Registries, Inc., a US-based corporation that has offices in major shipping centers worldwide. As of 2017, the Marshall Islands ship registry was the second largest in the world, after that of Panama.
Majuro is the capital and largest city of the Marshall Islands. Majuro port is the world’s busiest tuna transshipment port in the world, with 704 transshipment totaling 444,393 tons in 2015. Majuro has an international airport with scheduled flights to Hawaii, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Guam, and Nauru, and flights to domestic destinations around the country.
Chuuk – Currency
Chuuk, like the rest of the FSM, uses the US dollar as currency, though some hotels will accept foreign currency as well.
Tabuaeran (Fanning Island)
[Fanning Island ]
Tabuaeran is an atoll that is part of the Line Islands and part of Kiribati. It had a population of 2,315 in 2015. The atoll is famous for its white-sand beaches, blue-green waters, and friendly residents. It is a heaven for snorkeling, and surfing. The closest airport is Kiribati International airport. From there one has to take a boat to this atoll. Pegasus Lodges provides private air charters from Christmas Island (on a three-hour flight from Hawaii).
Copra and seaweed are produced for export. The island has no telephones, no running water, and no electricity.
The atoll has become a port of call for yachts and cruise ships sailing from Hawaii.
The Fanning Island Lodge guesthouse is rustic accommodation on the island. It has only very basic shared amenities.
Chuuk – Economy
The main economic activities of the people of Chuuk are subsistence farming and fishing, and tourism is also an emerging sector.
Aranuka Island
[ Residents of Aranuka Island]
Aranuka is an atoll of Kiribati. It has an area of 11.6 square kilometres (4.5 square miles) and a population of 1,057 in 2010. Aranuka has white sandy beaches and blue waters. The atoll has tall mangrove trees with heights of more than 15 m (49 ft). The uninhabited islets of the island also provide swimming and snorkeling spots for tourists. The island is served by two flights a week from South Tarawa. Charter boat services are also available.
Accommodation is provided by the Island Council guesthouse.
Chuuk – Language
The official language of the FSM is English. The people of Chuuk also speak their own indigenous language, Chuukese.
Chuuk – Population
53,500 (approximately half the total population of The Federated States of Micronesia)
Chuuk – Climate Temperatures
Warm, humid tropical climate. Rain throughout the year.
Diving in Yap.
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Yap is a good place for diving. It has virgin reefs with beautiful corals, sea caves, sea turtles and amazing grey sharks and barracudas that most divers would love to witness.
But the most famous attraction for divers would be Yap’s manta rays.
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