Marshall Islands
The
Marshall Islands, officially the
Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), is a
Micronesian island nation in the western
Pacific Ocean, located north of
Nauru and
Kiribati, east of the
Federated States of Micronesia and south of the U.S. territory of
Wake Island.
While settled by
Micronesians in the
2nd millennium BC, little is known of the early history of the islands.
Spanish explorer
Alonso de Salazar was the first
European to sight the Marshalls in
1526, but the islands remained virtually unvisited by Europeans for several more centuries, before being visited by
English captain
John Marshall in
1788; the islands owe their name to him.
A
German trading company settled on the islands in
1885, and they became part of the
protectorate of
German New Guinea some years later.
Japan conquered the islands in
World War I, and administered them as a
League of Nations mandate.
In
World War II, the
United States invaded the islands (
1944), and they were added to the
Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (including several more island groups in the South Sea).
In
1979 the Republic of the Marshall Islands was established and a
Compact of Free Association with the U.S. government was signed, becoming effective in
1986. The independence was formally completed under international law in
1990, when the UN officially ended the trust given to the USA.
The Marshall Islands are divided into 24 legislative districts, which correspond to the inhabited islands and atolls of the country. See
Geography.
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Average monthly temperatures (red) and precipitation (blue) on Majuro. |
The country consists of 29
atolls and 5 isolated islands. The most important atolls and islands form two groups: the
Ratak Chain and the
Ralik Chain (meaning "sunrise" and "sunset" chains). Two-thirds of the nation's population lives on Majuro (which is also the capital) and Ebeye. The outer islands are sparsely populated due to lack of employment opportunities and economic development. Life on the outer atolls is generally still fairly traditional, and the nutrition of the rural population, being grown and caught, is superior that of most of the urban residents, who rely considerably on white rice.
The climate is hot and humid, with a wet season from May to November. The islands occasionally suffer from
typhoons.
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Map of the Marshall Islands |
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Ailinginae Atoll (uninhabited)
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Ailinglaplap Atoll (legislative district)
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Ailuk Atoll (legislative district)
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Arno (legislative district)
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Aur Atoll (legislative district)
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Bikar Atoll (or Bikaar; uninhabited)
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Bikini Atoll*
Bokak Atoll (uninhabited)
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Ebon Atoll (legislative district)
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Enewetak Atoll (legislative district)
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Erikub Atoll (uninhabited)
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Jabat Island (legislative district)
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Jaluit Atoll (legislative district)
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Jemo Island (uninhabited)
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Kili Island (legislative district)
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Kwajalein Atoll (legislative district)
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Lae Atoll (legislative district)
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Lib Island (legislative district)
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Likiep Atoll (legislative district)
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Majuro Atoll (legislative district)
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Maloelap Atoll (legislative district)
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Mejit Island (legislative district)
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Mili Atoll (legislative district)
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Nadikdik Atoll (or Knox; uninhabited)
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Namorik Atoll (or Namdrik; legislative district)
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Namu Atoll (legislative district)
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Rongelap Atoll (legislative district)
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Rongerik Atoll (uninhabited)
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Toke Atoll (uninhabited)
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Ujae Atoll (legislative district)
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Ujelang Atoll (legislative district)
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Utirik Atoll (or Utrik; legislative district)
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Wotho Atoll (legislative district)
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Wotje Atoll (legislative district)
United States Government assistance is the mainstay of the economy. Agricultural production is concentrated on small farms, and the most important commercial crops are
coconuts,
tomatoes,
melons, and
breadfruit. Small-scale industry is limited to handicrafts, fish processing, and
copra. The tourist industry, now a small source of foreign exchange employing less than 10% of the labor force, remains the best hope for future added income. The islands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports. Around 1999 a tuna loining plant was built and employed upwards of 400 people, mostly women. After absorbing significant training costs and lack of government assistance the plant was closed in 2005. Although the plant brought almost $6 million into the economy, and provided a significant number of jobs that previously had not existed, the government let the plant close and chose to not provide any incentives to the owners to keep it open. Under the terms of the
Compact of Free Association, the US provides roughly $65 million in annual aid. Negotiations were under way in 1999 for an extended agreement. Government downsizing, drought, a drop in construction, and the decline in tourism and foreign investment due to the Asian financial difficulties caused GDP to fall in 1996-98.
The United States also maintains the U.S. Army's
Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site on
Kwajalein Atoll. It is an important aspect of the Marshallese economy, as the Marshallese land owners receive rent for the base, and a large number of Marshallese work at the base.It is noted that the Majuro Atoll benefited from many foreign assistances. The main airport was built by the Japanese (during
World War 2), the only tarmac road of the capital was built by the Americans.
The Marshallese are of
Micronesian origin and migrated from Asia several thousand years ago. Although
English is an official language and is spoken widely, although not fluently,
Marshallese is used by the government.
Japanese is also occasionally spoken in some areas of Marshall Islands.
Virtually all Marshallese are
Christian, most of them
Protestant.
Although now in decline, the Marshallese were once able navigators, using the stars and stick and shell charts. They are also experienced in
canoe building and still hold annual competitions involving the unique oceanic sailing canoe, the
proa.
Between 1946 and 1958 the USA tested 67
nuclear weapons in the Marshall Islands, including the largest
nuclear test the US ever conducted,
Castle Bravo, which resulted in the
radiation poisoning of 236 Marshallese. Nuclear claims between the United States and the Marshall Islands are ongoing, and health effects still linger from these tests.
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Communications in the Marshall Islands*
Foreign relations of the Marshall Islands*
Military of the Marshall Islands*
Scouting in the Marshall Islands *
Transportation in the Marshall Islands* [https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/rm.html CIA World Factbook - Marshall Islands]
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Enciclopaedia Britannica - Marshall Islands' country page*
Marshall Islands embassy to the US - information on Marshall Islands*
Marshall Islands Digital Archive and Library *
Yokwe Online - Everything Marshall Islands*
Jane's Marshall Islands Home Page*
Encyclopedia of the Nations - Marshall Islands*
Marshall Islands maps, photos, links, nutrition study - University of Akron*
Atomic Testing Information*
Pictures of victims of US nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands on Nuclear Files.org*
Marshall Islands is 203rd Olympic nation*
Journal of Outer Island Travel in The Marshall Islands*
Photos of the Marshall Islands
