10 things I wish I knew before going to Micronesia

Micronesia completely matches the unknown standards. Most importantly, today, we will learn 10 facts that you need to know before travel to Micronesia. It is a country in the western Pacific Ocean. It consists of more than 600 islands and islets of the Caroline Islands archipelago. It is divided roughly along cultural and linguistic lines into the Federated States of Micronesia – from west to east – Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae. The Micronesia capital is the city of Palikir, on the island of Pohnpei. The Federated States of Micronesia population of 113 thousand Micronesia people, usually referred to as Micronesians, is very diverse in cultural and linguistic terms. The inhabitants of Yap Island speak the Yapese language, and they are similar in language and culture to the inhabitants of Chuuk, although Chuuk and Yap are not mutually intelligible. Both Chuuk and Pohnpei contain several dialects. The inhabitants of Kapingamaranga and Nukuoro, two atolls in the southwestern part of Pohnpei State, are Polynesian and speak languages unrelated to Pohnpei. Only Kosrae has complete ethnic and linguistic unity. Overall, eight local languages are recognized as separate, and dialect differences in remote atolls add to the diversity. So let's get back to our facts.

1. Where is Micronesia located?

Micronesia is located mostly to the north of the equator, and the ordinary and volcanic islands included in them have a total area of about 2,730 square kilometers. By comparison, the territory occupied by the Federated States of Micronesia is slightly less than four times the size of Washington, DC. Kosrae, the smallest and most Eastern of the state, consists of five closely spaced Islands. Pohnpei consists of one large Pohnpei Island and 25 small islands inside the barrier reef, and 137 outer islands. Truk includes the large Truk Lagoon, including 98 islands, and the main external island groups, including Mortlocks, Halls, and Namwunweito Islands.

2. How did Micronesia get its name?

Previously, the area where is Micronesia located was called the Caroline Islands. There are quite a few guesses about what the name Micronesia is associated with. Still, the most obvious theory is that word Micronesia is from the ancient Greek " μικρος "(small) and" vησος " (island), the name of one of the three geographical areas (Melanesia and Polynesia) of Oceania, a region in the Pacific Ocean. The term was first proposed to refer to the region in 1831 by Jules Dumont D'Urville. Also, this name takes its origins due to the small size of the islands in the country, so we get a generalized feature associated with the name Micronesia.

3. How do I get here?

As we already know, the Federated States of Micronesia can be divided into four states: Chuuk Kosrae, Yap, and Pohnpei. Pohnpei International Airport is the main airport for travel to Micronesia. It is located on an island near the capital of Micronesia, Palikir. Due to the small Micronesia population and low tourist flow in these Pacific islands, Micronesia tours are limited, and getting to Micronesia can be difficult. Flight routes vary depending on where you want to go. You can fly directly to Chuuk from Brisbane and Guam from Cairns, but if you fly via Sydney, be prepared for a few transfers. The good news is that you can enjoy a relaxing holiday without the crowds of different tourists once there.

4. Ancient city on a coral reef

Micronesia tours are very diverse, but the most exciting one is the tour to the ancient city built on coral reefs. Nan Madol is about a hundred islands on the southeast coast of Pohnpei built on basalt and coral boulders. On those islands, the ruins of temples, stone palaces, tombs, and residential buildings that were built about 670 years ago are still preserved. These buildings were once a ceremonial center of the dynasty of Baudelaires. Buildings of large scale, their architectural features, and the use of megalithic material in the construction proves the presence of not simple social and religious customs of the island society of those times. And the outstanding monumental megalithic architecture of the city is demonstrated by the construction of walls made of massive columnar basalt stones brought from quarries in other parts of the island and laid with the help of a characteristic "stretcher technique". Nan Madol is listed as a World Heritage Site because it is under threat, mainly due to silting water bodies, which allow mangroves to grow uncontrollably and thus undermine buildings.

5. Climate in the country

The Federated States of Micronesia has an equatorial climate, meaning it is hot, humid, and rainy throughout the year. The temperature is stable throughout the year: around 22°C at night and 32°C during the day; it rarely falls below 20°C, and can sometimes reach 35°C. The islands are located north of the equator and are affected by the trade winds, constant winds that can slightly soften the heat. Annual precipitation is plentiful and ranges from 2,500 to 5,000 millimeters. Still, on the windward slopes of larger islands like Pohnpei and Kosrae, which have inland elevations, it can exceed 6,000 mm per year. Mount Nanalaud, 750 meters high on Pohnpei Island, is one of the wettest places on Earth, with 10,160 mm of rain per year, and is often covered in clouds. Given the frequent rains, the amount of sunlight on average is never high, so cloudy Micronesia tours may not provide on the sunniest days.

6. Micronesia form of government

According to the 1979 Constitution, the form of government in Micronesia consists of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. The President and Vice President are elected by the Legislature – the unicameral National Congress. The legislature consists of one senator from each state. They are elected for a four-year term, and a variable number of senators from one district are selected for a two-year term. Other than those related to defense and foreign affairs, most of the main government functions are performed at the State level, not at the national level. The government of each of the four states has a popularly elected governor and a unicameral legislature. There are no political parties. The judicial system consists of the Supreme Court of the Federated States of Micronesia, courts in each of the four states, and municipal courts in each state's political division. In the States of Micronesia, the form of government applies wherever it does not conflict with constitutional law. Also, under the "Free Association Agreement", the United States protects the islands.

7. Crime rate

Micronesia is not known for its relatively serious crime rate. Still, there are regular reports of minor crimes against travelers in Chuuk, Yak, and Pohnpei, including break-ins and nonviolent theft. It is better to take all necessary precautions to protect your belongings and use common sense when traveling. In general, travelers should feel safe exploring the islands, but women are advised to exercise caution when traveling alone in Micronesia's secluded areas. Crime in Chuuk is higher than in other states. Stay away from the streets after dark also on Veno Island. Sometimes travelers are the victims of theft, verbal and physical abuse, which can sometimes escalate into a serious confrontation. Do not try to interfere in disputes between residents. Alcohol-related crimes and traffic accidents involving drunk driving are not uncommon on weekends and after dark.

8. What is the basis of the country's economy?

The Micronesia currency is the familiar US dollar. Subsistence agriculture and fishing are the main economic activities. The main food items are breadfruit, taro, coconuts, and bananas, but yams, cassava, and sweet potatoes are also grown on some high islands. Sometimes poultry, pigs, and dogs are bred for food. The main revenue source is US government grant aid, which continues under the Free Association Agreement signed in 1982. External grants account for almost two-thirds of the revenue. The terms of the original contract, which expired in 2001, were renewed with minor amendments in 2003. The service sector, including government employment, is also a source of income. The government also receives revenue from the sale of fishing rights. Tourism is slowly expanding, with tourism growth held back by the islands' remoteness and poor infrastructure. Local commercial fishing is developed only on a small scale, and large-scale agriculture has repeatedly failed. The only minerals worth talking about are undeveloped offshore deposits of high – grade phosphates.

9. Volcanic Islands of Micronesia

An impressive part of the territory in which Micronesia is located consists of volcanic islands. So the country's areas: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae-united in the States of Micronesia, support settlements on such islands. Yap State consists of four volcanic islands plus 19 inhabited outer islands and atolls, with 119 square kilometers. Yap is a group of islands with volcanic and continental rocks, surrounded by a fairly wide reef platform. Chuuk State includes volcanic islands in Chuuk Lagoon and about 24 outer island atolls, and it is the most populous of the states with an area of 126 square kilometers. Pohnpei State- where is Micronesia capital located, consists of one large volcanic island and six inhabited atolls, with most of it belonging to the island of Pohnpei itself. Kosrae is a volcanic island with 111 square kilometers and is surrounded by a fringing reef.

10. What language is spoken here?

Although English is the country's official Micronesia language, there are several other indigenous languages of the Malayo-Polynesian language family that Micronesia uses. Micronesian languages, a group of mutually unintelligible languages belonging to the eastern or Oceanic branch of the Austronesian language family, are closely related to the Melanesian and Polynesian languages. The Micronesian group's seven closely related languages are the main Micronesian languages, including Marshall, Gilbertian, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrei, Karolinic, and Ulithi. Two other Micronesia languages that belong to the Polynesian group are Nukuoro and Kapingamarangi. The two languages spoken in Micronesia are most closely related to the Western, or Indonesian, branch of the Austronesian languages. It is "Chamorro" - very similar to the Philippines' languages, and "Palau" - whose kinship is less certain, but Indonesian. These Micronesian languages are identical in phonology and structure to demonstrate their close relationship, but the vocabulary elements are a little alike, only 25 percent.