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Micronesia – 13 Facts You Should Know

There are 607 islands, all in the Federated States of Micronesia, a subregion of Oceania that comprises four primary island groupings that make up the western Pacific Ocean. The Philippines and Indonesia are located to the west of the country. Freely associated with the United States, the government is a federal republic. The president is the head of state and government. Micronesia’s economy is mostly based on subsistence farming and fishing, which are the primary sources of income.

Geography

Yap, Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk), and Kosrae are part of the Federated States of Micronesia, a group of island nations in the Caroline Islands. Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk have volcanic outcroppings, whereas the high mountainous islands of Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk have low coral atolls. A 3,200-mile (5,150-kilometer) west-southwest trek will take you to these uninhabited islands in the northern Pacific Ocean.

History

In the 17th century, Spain invaded the islands that Micronesian and Polynesian peoples inhabited. In 1898, Germany bought them from Spain. When the Japanese invaded in 1914, American soldiers retook control of the islands. The Trust Territory in the Pacific Islands was established on April 2, 1947, by the United Nations Security Council. The United States was given control of the Northern Mariana, Caroline, and the Marshall Islands as a result of the Trust.

Self-determination for the Micronesian Federation (FMA) was achieved in 1979. In 1983, the Federated States of Micronesia (FMA) chose to adopt a Compact of Special Association with the United States. In November 1986, the United States government proclaimed the Trust Territory arrangements no longer in force, giving the Federated States of Micronesia complete independence. The agreement was extended for a further two decades in November 2002. It became a United Nations member on September 17, 1991. The country became a member of the IMF in July of that year.

Economic Overview

Most of FSM’s economic activity is based on government services and funding from other countries. It is difficult for the FSM to expand because of its tiny, scattered population, limited natural resources, and susceptibility to external shocks. The fishing industry is considered the most promising in terms of future growth. Fisheries in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) are encouraged by establishing the Vessel Day Program under the Nauru Agreement, which provides access to key equatorial tuna migratory routes. Revenue from fishing licence fees makes up over half of the national budget.

Divers and eco-tourists have a lot of promise in FSM’s tourism business, as well. Each year, the islands welcome around 21,000 visitors. However, the country’s geographical remoteness, limited airline connections, and insufficient infrastructure, including roads, electricity, and water, hinder tourism growth. The tourism business in the Federated States of Micronesia has suffered as a consequence of the border limitations imposed by COVID-19.

13 Fascinating Facts

1	While being made up of four separate nations, Micronesia has a strong sense of national identity. Micronesia's various states are culturally distinct, yet the country's official position is that there is a single national unity. Each state is represented by a different national flag, which has a blue field with a white star in the centre (symbol of the Western Pacific Ocean). You can see that the flag was designed with the United States of America in mind.
2	Having been a former US colony, Micronesia has retained its reliance on the US Dollar. Micronesia was formerly part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands controlled by the United States. Although it is now a sovereign state, it continues to utilise the US dollar just like its currency. Marshall Islands, Palau, and the Mariana Islands are all members of the Trust. This is the same.
3	Pohnpei does not have a phone number. Pohnpei has a unique fact about itself: Because it's so tiny, there's only one major road, and all the residents know one other and where each other lives. As a consequence, there are no street addresses in the area.
4	There are few locations as safe as Kosrae. Few crimes have been committed on the small Micronesian island of Kosrae, which makes it one of the safest locations on the earth. It is also unrelated, but unlike nearby islands, they don't contain any crocodiles, snakes, or other potentially lethal reptiles.
5	One of the least-visited countries in the world. Micronesia does not seem to be a popular tourist destination, in part because of its modest size and in part due to its name referring to a slew of islands in the North Pacific. There are less than 45,000 tourists a year that visit the Federated States of Micronesia, the vast majority of whom come for diving.
6	The people of Micronesia are fluent in nine languages. The 100,000-strong population speaks nine official languages of Micronesia, which is remarkable considering the country's small size. Eight languages are spoken in the country: Chuukese, Korean, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Ulithian and Kapingamarangi. Sadly, the population is shrinking at an alarming rate. With a population of little over 7,000, Palikir is one of the tiniest cities.
7	Betel nut is a common delicacy for everyone. Betel nut spit splashes are a typical sight on the Pacific islands. As a consequence of betel nut chewing, people's teeth get stained and seem to have bleeding gums. Not the most attractive appearance, but it's prevalent in the Pacific region!
8	There are a lot of wreck divers in Chuuk. After the Japanese base on the island of Chuuk was destroyed in World War II by Operation Hailstone, an estimated 50 ships sank in the area. This is a unique feature of Micronesia: divers come here to examine the wrecks beneath the sea.
9	Thousands of pounds of donated items are airdropped to Micronesia. Drops of up to 200 kilogrammes of food, fishing nets, building materials, clothing, shoes, tools, as well as school supplies are sent to the Micronesian islands. On Guam's Andersen Base, a US jet saw people waving in Kapingarangi and decided to drop as many supplies as it could on them. Operation Christmas Drop was the name of this humanitarian effort and has been used ever since. Additionally, the US military utilises this as a training ground for people who would be responsible for humanitarian airdrops inside war-torn countries like Iraq and Afghanistan.
10	The ancient metropolis of Pohnpei is comparable in size to that of Angkor Wat. Located on the island of Pohnpei, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that may be accessed by just 1,000 visitors every year. Islets and canals are said to have been used to build Nan Madol, the capital of the Saudeleur Dynasty, in the 8th century. As a result of its extensive canal system, it's frequently dubbed Venice in the Pacific.
11	Additionally, there are ancient megalithic buildings that date back to the 12th century. All of these coral-built islands are much more amazing. The island of Pohnpei is exceedingly remote and difficult to access, and there has been no coordinated marketing campaign to promote Nan Madol.
12	A person cannot be seen in Yap without a bag. In Yap, it's against the rules to enter a town with nothing in your hand since it's assumed you're carrying evil intentions. As a peace symbol, visitors to Yap must carry a green leaf in their possession.
13	Micronesia's economy is mostly based on fishing. For a small nation that is so isolated, fishing and other marine-related industries account for the bulk of its GDP. Micronesia excels in seafood processing and exports fish along with fruit and nuts. In addition, it exports wood, pearl, and shell crafts. Micronesia's economy is quite basic since the country's industry hasn't progressed greatly.