Difference between revisions of "Federated States of Micronesia"
Revision as of 18:56, 16 November 2012For the region of Micronesia, please see Micronesia (disambiguation)
The Federated States of Micronesia [1] is a country in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. It is composed of four major island groups totaling 607 islands that lie just north of the equator about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia, to the north of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands and to the south of the Marshall Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam.
UnderstandClimateTropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage; Natural hazards : typhoons (June to December). TerrainIslands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Truk
History
In 1979, the Federated States of Micronesia, a UN Trust Territory under US administration, adopted a constitution. On 3 November, 1986, independence was attained under a Compact of Free Association with the US; economic provisions of the Compact are being renegotiated. Previously, the area had been colonized by the Japanese, the Germans, and the Spanish
Present concerns include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence on US aid.
RegionsThere are 4 states: Cities
Ports and harborsOther destinationsThe remote atoll of Kapingamarangi is the southernmost island group in FSM. Get inIf you are going to be in the FSM for less than 30 days you do not need an entry permit. Anyone who will be staying longer than that needs an entry permit. For citizens of the United States, Palau, and the Marshall Islands, this entry permit lasts 1 year. For everyone else, it lasts 60 days. You can get your entry permit on arrival, but if you're traveling for a purpose other than tourism, you need to apply for it in advance. Most people will need to prove their citizenship with a passport that has at least 120 days of remaining validity, but if you're from Palau, Marshall Islands, or the United States, you can use your birth certificate or an FSM entry permit in lieu of a passport (but a passport still works, too). If you need to apply for an entry permit on arrival, you must present an FSM Arrival and Departure Record. This is furnished by a carrier before entering the FSM. You will need a completed application form in addition to this. By planeThe major airline that travels to FSM is United Airlines, which operates a thrice-weekly "island hopper" flight (UA172 eastbound, UA154 westbound) traveling Honolulu—Majuro—Kwajalein—Kosrae—Pohnpei—Chuuk—Guam and vice versa. The flight is fourteen and a half hours, leaving in the early morning and terminating in the evening, with a stop of about one hour on each island. There are also nonstop flights from various islands to both Honolulu and Guam. Honolulu is the most direct gateway into the islands from North America. Guam is the most direct gateway from most points in Asia and Australia, although it is also possible to fly into the islands from Manila via Palau. By boatThe major international ports are; Chuuk,Pohnpei and Yap. There are inter-island trading ships based in these major ports which visits the outlying islands. Get aroundBy AirThe "Island Hopper," operated by United Airlines, flies between Guam, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae. United also flies from Guam to Yap and Palau. However, it is not possible to fly directly to Yap from other islands in the FSM (you must fly through Guam first). By busEven though there are no bus scheduled service on the island, some buses are available to hire or charter. Also, on Yap there is a school bus that runs twice daily from Colonia to the villages. TaxiTaxi service is available throughout the islands and are inexpensive. Car HireThere are self-driven cars available in the major towns of the islands. However, It is required to have a National Driver's License or International Driving Permit. Talk
SeeSee the remoteness of the islands, especially Kosrae, the jungles of Ponhpei, the diving in Chuuk, and the traditional culture and stone money of Yap. There are many other things to see on these islands as well. DoSome popular activities are: Diving Viewing traditional culture Swimming BuyEatDrinkSleep
LearnWorkU.S. citizens may live and work freely in Micronesia. Stay safeThe Federated States of Micronesia is generally one of the safest countries to visit. However, there has been some reports of crime in Weno, the capital of Chuuk. Crime is certainly a problem in Weno. Stay healthyRespectSome islands are very traditional, especially Yap state. Be sure to respect their culture. Contact
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