Fiji, officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about 1,100 nautical miles (2,000 km; 1,300 mi) northeast of New Zealands North Island. Its closest neighbours are Vanuatu to the west, New Caledonia to the southwest, New Zealands Kermadec Islands to the southeast, Tonga to the east, the Samoas and Frances Wallis and Futuna to the northeast, and Tuvalu to the north. The country comprises an archipelago of more than 332 islands, of which 110 are permanently inhabited, and more than 500 islets, amounting to a total land area of circa 18,300 square kilometres (7,100 sq mi). The farthest island is Onu-i-Lau. The two major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, account for 87% of the population of almost 860,000. The capital and largest city, Suva, is on Viti Levu. About three-quarters of Fijians live on Viti Levus coasts, either in Suva or in smaller urban centres like Nadi (tourism) or Lautoka (sugar cane industry). Viti Levus interior is sparsely inhabited due to its terrain. The majority of Fijis islands were formed through volcanic activity starting around 150 million years ago. Today, some geothermal activity still occurs on the islands of Vanua Levu and Taveuni. Fiji has been inhabited since the second millennium BC. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Dutch and the British explored Fiji, which was a Crown Colony until 1970, this administration lasting almost a century. During World War II, thousands of Fijians volunteered to aid in Allied efforts via their attachment to the New Zealand and Australian army units. The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) consist of land and naval units. Fiji has one of the most developed economies in the Pacific island realm due to an abundance of forest, mineral, and fish resources. Today, the main sources of foreign exchange are its tourist industry and sugar exports. The countrys currency is the Fijian dollar. Following a coup in 2006, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau became Fijis president after a high court ruled that the military leadership was unlawfully appointed. Fijis local government, in the form of city and town councils, is supervised by the Ministry of Local Government and Urban Development.
Posted on: Sun, 27 Apr 2014 14:26:02 +0000