Marshall Islands colony. Government of the Marshall Islands. Flag of the Marshall Islands

Republic of the Marshall Islands- Pacific state in Micronesia. It borders in the west and southwest with the territorial waters of the Federated States of Micronesia, in the south with the territorial waters of Kiribati, in other parts - with the neutral waters of the Pacific Ocean. The length of the coastal strip is 370.4 km. The Republic of the Marshall Islands is located on 29 atolls and 5 islands of the Marshall Islands archipelago, consisting of the Ralik and Ratak chains. total area land - 181.3 km²; the territory occupied by lagoons is 11,673 km². The population of the Marshall Islands is 63,174 people. (2008, estimate). The capital is Majuro.

The first island seen by Europeans was Bokak Atoll, discovered Spanish navigator Alonso de Salazar in 1526. Subsequently, the Marshall Islands alternately became the territory of different colonial powers: in 1886 - Germany, in 1914 - Japan, which continued to rule the islands after the First World War already under the mandate of the League of Nations, in 1947 - included in the United Nations Trust Territory under the control of the United States. As a state entity, the Marshall Islands arose in 1983 as a result of the division of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Since 1986, the Islands have been in "free association" with the United States. The Marshall Islands is a member of the United Nations, the South Pacific Commission and the Pacific Islands Forum.

Name

The Marshall Islands are named after British Captain John Marshall (also known as William Marshall), who, along with fellow Captain Thomas Gilbert, after whom the neighboring Gilbert Islands are named, explored the archipelago in 1788 while transporting prisoners to New South Wales.

V pacific ocean, in Micronesia; US custody. open Spanish navigator A. Saavedra in 1529 G. and subsequently forgotten. Rediscovered by an English naval officer, Captain John Marshall, in 1788 G. and named after him islands Marshall (Marshall Islands) ; V Russian literature adopted the Marshall form islands, until the mid-1950s gg. Marshall Islands. Cm. See also Micronesia.

Geographical names of the world: Toponymic dictionary. - M: AST. Pospelov E.M. 2001 .

Marshall Islands

(Marshall Islands), 1) a group of several hundred coral islands in the Pacific Ocean, north of the equator, in micronesia, the largest - about. Kwajalein. They form the territory of the Marshall Islands. Discovered in 1529 by the Spanish navigator A. Saavedra; studied in detail in 1788 by the English naval officer J. Marshall and named after him. Many islands, especially in the Radak group, were discovered and mapped at the beginning of the 19th century. Russian navigators (O. E. Kotzebue and others) and received Russian names, which were later replaced by local ones. The atolls of Bikini and Eniwetok have been repeatedly tested nuclear weapons;
2) Republic of the Marshall Islands , state-in on the islands of the same name in the Pacific Ocean. It arose in 1983 during the division of UN trust territories, until 1986 - under the tutelage of the United States, after - a state freely associated with the United States. Pl. 181 km², population 70 thousand people. (2000), mainly the Marshallese are an ethnic group of Micronesians. Capital of Majuro. At the head of the government is the president, the legislature is a bicameral parliament. The official language is English, Japanese and local Malayo-Polynesian dialects are also common. Extraction of phosphorites, harvesting of seafood, production of handicrafts from sea shells, wood and pearls, tourism infrastructure is being developed. Cultivation of coconut palm, cocoa, breadfruit, taro, sweet potatoes. Export of copra. Cash unit - U.S. dollar.

Dictionary of modern geographical names. - Yekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of Acad. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006 .

Marshall Islands

a group of several hundred coral islands in the Pacific Ocean, north of the equator, in Micronesia. Discovered in 1529 by the Spanish navigator A. Saavedra; studied in detail in 1788 by the English naval officer J. Marshall and named after him. Many islands, especially in the Radak group, were discovered and mapped in the beginning. 19th century Russian navigators (O.E. Kotzebue etc.), therefore they received Russian names, which were later replaced by local ones. Pl. 181 km², us. OK. 40 thousand people The largest about Kwajalein. Cultivation of coconut palm, breadfruit, taro, sweet potato. Export of copra. Fishing. The Bikini and Eniwetok atolls have been repeatedly tested nuclear weapons.

Geography. Modern illustrated encyclopedia. - M.: Rosman. Under the editorship of prof. A. P. Gorkina. 2006 .

The Republic of the Marshall Islands, an island nation in the archipelago of the same name in the western Pacific Ocean. The archipelago consists of two parallel chains of atolls - Ralik and Ratak, stretched from the northwest to the southeast between 5 and 15 ° N latitude. and 162 and 173°E and comprising 29 coral atolls and five coral islands ( total number islands and smaller islets ca. 1150), scattered over an area of ​​approx. 1 million sq. km. Among them is the world's largest atoll Kwajalein (Menshikov) with an area of ​​approx. 2200 sq. km (together with the lagoon). On the atolls of Eniwetok, Bikini and Majuro, the United States conducted nuclear weapons tests in 1946-1958. The land area of ​​the Marshall Islands is 181 sq. km.
Nature. The Marshall Islands are composed of coral limestones resting on the peaks underwater volcanoes. As a rule, coral islands are low-lying, their average height is 10 m above sea level, in some places the surface rises to 20 m, and maximum height reaches 24 m above sea level. The climate is equatorial, hot and humid. Average annual temperature 28 ° C. The average annual rainfall varies from 500-800 mm in the north to 4000 mm in the south. It usually rains in summer and autumn (from May to November), storms and typhoons occur; winter is the drier season. The soils of the coral islands are infertile, mostly occupied by mangrove swamps. Animal world is extremely poor and is represented mainly by bats and rats, accidentally brought by Europeans on ships. Reptiles include crocodiles, snakes, and lizards. Lots of birds and insects. Coastal waters abound with fish.
Population. In 1990, approx. 45.6 thousand people, in 2004 there were 57,738 people. About half of the population is concentrated on the capital island of Majuro (according to the 1999 census - 23.7 thousand people) on the atoll of the same name and a quarter - on the Kwajalein Atoll, where the US missile base is located. 38.6% of the population are children and adolescents (under 14 years old), the age group from 15 to 64 years old includes 58.7%, and over 65 years old - 2.7% of the population. The birth rate is estimated at 33.88 per 1000 inhabitants, the death rate at 4.94 per 1000, and the natural increase at 2.29%. Infant mortality - 30.5 per 1000 newborns.
The population is dominated by Marshallese belonging to the Micronesian group of peoples. The official language is English. Two dialects of the Marshallese language, belonging to the East Austronesian group of Austronesian, are common on the islands. language family as well as Japanese. Believers are mostly Protestants (Congregationalists), there are also Catholics. The population is highly literate: almost all adults (over 15 years old) can read and write.
State structure. The Republic of the Marshall Islands is a state "freely associated with the United States". The state and government are headed by the president (since January 2000 - K. Note). Legislature- a unicameral parliament of 33 deputies elected by the population for a term of 4 years. The Parliament elects the President from among its members for a term of 4 years. The president forms the government (executive power) from among the members of parliament. The country has a 12-member Council of Chiefs - an advisory body in charge of issues common law. The highest judicial bodies are the Supreme Court and the High Court.
Traditionally, there were no parties in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, but rather associations based on common interests. Only in the last parliamentary elections in November 1999 did two "party groups" take part - the Kabua Party (chairman I. Kabua) and the United Democratic Party (chairman L. Tomeinga).
Economy. The country's economy is based on subsistence agriculture, copra production for export, and US financial assistance. A large share of foreign exchange earnings are income from tourism. In the field tourism business busy approx. 10% of the population. Agricultural products are produced on small farms. They grow mainly coconut palm, breadfruit, pandanus, cocoa, taro, tomatoes and melons, they breed pigs and poultry. Small-scale production is reduced to handicrafts made from cowrie shells, wood and pearls, weaving, weaving from pandanus fiber and bamboo rods, and fish processing.
Only for the most major islands Majuro and Kwajalein have paved roads; on the other islands, natural surfaces composed of limestone, coral, or lateritic weathering crust are profiled for road construction. The main means of transportation between the islands are various types of ships and aircraft. The biggest sea ​​port Majuro. The Marshall Islands owns an extensive merchant fleet, numbering 143 units with a displacement of more than 1,000 reg. tons each (with a total displacement of 6,801,336 registered tons). It includes ships for the transportation of bulk and liquid cargo, liquefied gas, container ships, oil tankers, etc. Some merchant ships sail under the flags of other states - the USA, Canada, China, Germany, Japan. The Republic of the Marshall Islands has a dozen and a half airports, and only four of them runways have a hard coating.
Because the country is poor natural resources imports far exceed exports. In addition to copra, coconut oil, fish, bivalve shells are exported, which give mother-of-pearl. They import food, machinery and equipment, fuel, drinks, tobacco products. The main foreign trade partners are the USA, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore.
The Marshall Islands receives US aid of approx. $65 million External debt in fiscal year 1996/97 was $125 million.
Story. The islands were discovered by the Spanish navigator A. Saavedra in 1529. In 1788 they were explored by the Englishmen T. Gilbert and J. Marshall and named after the latter. At the beginning of the 19th century many of the islands were discovered and mapped by Russian navigators (O.E. Kotzebue, L.A. Gagemeister and others), who gave them Russian names - Rimsky-Korsakov, Kutuzov, Kruzenshtern, Rumyantsev, Menshikov. In the 19th century European and American traders and missionaries began to settle in the Marshall Islands. In 1885 Germany declared them a protectorate. In 1914, at the very beginning of the First World War, the islands were captured by Japan, which continued to rule them after the war under the mandate of the League of Nations. In early 1944, American troops occupied the Marshall Islands, in 1947 they were included in the UN Trust Territory of Micronesia (then the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands - PTTO), administered by the United States. Between 1946 and 1958 the United States conducted a series of tests of atomic and hydrogen bombs on the Bikini and Eniwetok atolls. In May 1979, the Marshall Islands seceded from the PTTO, acquired many self-governing rights and received the name of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. In 1983, the "Free Association" Agreement between the Marshall Islands and the United States was signed, ratified by the US Congress in January 1986 and entered into force in October of the same year. This status provides self-government to the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Questions of defense, finance and foreign affairs remain the prerogative of the United States. The UN Security Council in 1990 abolished the trusteeship agreement over the Republic of the Marshall Islands. In September 1991 the country became a member of the UN.
LITERATURE
Oceania. Directory. M., 1982
Rubtsov B.B. Oceania. M., 1991

Encyclopedia Around the World. 2008 .

MARSHALL ISLANDS

REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS
A state in the northern part of the Pacific Ocean, located on the Marshall Islands archipelago. It consists of 34 islands, divided into two groups: the southeastern one - the Ratak Islands and the northeastern one - the Ralik Islands. The area is 181 km2.
The population (estimated in 1998) is 63,000. Ethnic groups: Micronesians - 97%. Language: English (official), Micronesian dialect, Japanese. Religion: Protestants - 90%. The capital is the island of Majuro. The state structure is a republic. The head of state is President Amata Kabua (since 1995). Monetary unit - US dollar. Average life expectancy (for 1998): 62 years - men, 65 years - women. The birth rate (per 1,000 people) is 45.4. Mortality rate (per 1000 people) - 6.9.
The islands were discovered by the Spaniards in 1526, but they were colonized only at the end of the 19th century. From 1886 to 1914 they were a German protectorate. In 1914, Japan captured them, and from 1920 she ruled the islands according to the mandate. In February 1944, American troops | captured Majuro, and later other islands;! archipelago. In 1946, Bikini Atoll was used by the Americans as a test site for nuclear weapons. In 1979, the archipelago received limited autonomy, and in 1990 | 3 year the UN Security Council recognized the independence of the Marshall Islands. The country is a member of the UN.

Encyclopedia: cities and countries. 2008 .

The Marshall Islands is a republic in the western part of the Pacific Ocean, in Micronesia. Area - 181 sq. km; population - 61.8 thousand people. The capital is Majuro (on the island of the same name). The islands were discovered in 1529. In the 17th-19th centuries they belonged to Spain (cm. Spain). In 1919 they were captured by Japan (cm. Japan), and during the Second World War - the United States (cm. USA). The republic gained actual independence in 1986.
The territory consists of several hundred small coral islands, atolls and reefs. The largest is Kwajalein Island. The climate on the islands is tropical, trade wind, in the south - subequatorial; precipitation falls 2000 - 4000 mm. Evergreen tropical forests and shrubs are widespread. The country's economy is based on agriculture and fishing. Grow coconut palm, breadfruit, casava, tropical fruits.

Encyclopedia of Tourism Cyril and Methodius. 2008 .

See what the "Marshall Islands" is in other dictionaries:

- (Republic of the Marshall Islands), a state in the western part of the Pacific Ocean, in Micronesia, on the archipelago of the same name. The area is 181.3 km2. The population is 52 thousand people, mainly Marshallese. The official language is Marshallese and English. Believers... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

- (Marshall Islands) The Republic of the Marshall Islands, a state on the archipelago of the same name in the Pacific Ocean, in Micronesia. 181 km². The population is 52 thousand people (1993), mainly Marshallese (one of the ethnic groups of Micronesians). Believers... ...

- (Marshall Islands) an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, in Micronesia. Discovered by the Spanish navigator A. de Saavedra in 1529, studied in more detail by the English navigator J. Marshall and T. Gilbert in 1788 (named after J. Marshall). Marshall's about va ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Exist., number of synonyms: 2 archipelago (45) country (281) ASIS synonym dictionary. V.N. Trishin. 2013 ... Synonym dictionary

- (Marshall Islands), an archipelago of 29 atolls and 5 islands in the center, part of the Pacific Ocean. They are named after the English captain who visited them in 1788. In 1886, M.o. became a protectorate of Germany. After the 1st World War, they were ruled by Japan, after the 2nd ... ... The World History

Republic of the Marshall Islands Aolepān Aorōkin M̧ajeļ (march) Republic of the Marshall Islands (English) ... Wikipedia

The Marshall Islands got their name from John Marshall, the captain of an English ship on which convicts were transported to Australia.

Geography

The Marshall Islands included in Micronesia are two parallel chains of five single islands and 29 atolls stretched from northwest to southeast. These chains are called Rataki Ralik. The relief of the archipelago is low and is represented by flat coral patches interspersed with sandy beaches.
A significant part of the territory of the archipelago is occupied by coconut palm plantations (about 60% of the land) and swampy mangroves framing the inner lagoons of the atolls. The soils of the coral islands are infertile and agriculture is limited.
The species composition of the flora and fauna of the islands is extremely poor: bats and Polynesian rats, as well as crocodiles, snakes and lizards live here. The ichthyofauna, on the contrary, is very diverse: coastal waters abound with fish.

Story

The Marshall Islands were settled by Micronesians (descendants of settlers from South-East Asia) around the II millennium BC. e. Even before the arrival of Europeans here, a caste system of society had developed on the islands, with a division into leaders, elders and workers. Today, the political structure of the state partly continues this tradition. In addition to the parliament - the nitijel, elected by popular vote, there is also the iroij council - a council of leaders called iroijlaplap, which advises the president on customs, culture and land ownership.
The ancient islanders traveled extensively by water, using maps along the way, on which islands were marked with cowrie shells, and currents were marked with veins of coconut palm leaves.
In 1526, the first European visited the islands - the Spanish captain Alonso de Salazar, who landed on the shore of one of the atolls from the ship "Santa Maria de la Victoria". After him, several more Spanish expeditions visited here, which gave names to the islands, but could not accurately map them, which left it unclear which of the atolls they visited.
English captain John Marshall (1748-1819) explored the islands in more detail in 1788. He was the captain of the ship that delivered the first batch of convicts from England to Australia, after which the settlement of Australia by Europeans began. On the way back, he stopped at the islands, which he named Lord Malgove's Islands. They were later renamed in honor of Marshall himself.
The description of the Marshall Islands was supplemented by the Russian expedition of Otto Kotzebue (1788-1846), who discovered the last islands of the archipelago, which remained unknown to Europeans.
In the second half of the XVII century. The Marshall Islands passed to Spain, but not a single Spanish settlement appeared on their territories. In 1885, the archipelago was bought from Spain by the German Empire.
During the First World War, the islands were captured by Japan, and in 1944 the United States took them under guardianship under a UN mandate.
In 1983, during the division of the UN Trust Territory, the independence of the islands was proclaimed and the Treaty of Free Association was signed, according to which the United States recognized the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the republic, in turn, granted the US military the right to be in the country and keep all military bases.
In 1990, the UN abolished the trusteeship agreement over the Marshall Islands, and in 1991 the country became a member of the organization.
The Republic of the Marshall Islands is located on the archipelago of the same name north of the equator in , halfway from New Guinea to the Hawaiian Islands. The archipelago consists of two parallel atoll chains: Ratak ("Sunrise") and Ralik ("Sunset"). After World War II, the US government used the Bikini and Enewetak atolls as a nuclear test site for testing especially powerful atomic and thermonuclear weapons.
Since the middle of the XX century. the United States spent on Marshall Islands nuclear tests. A site operated on the atolls of Bikini and Eniwetok, where, in particular, on February 28, 1954, an American thermonuclear device with a capacity of 15 megatons was tested. This test was codenamed "Bravo". In total, in the period 1946-1958. The USA carried out 67 tests of nuclear devices at Bikini, Eniwetok and in their coastal waters.
The first-ever underwater and surface nuclear explosion was carried out on Bikini Atoll, the most powerful American atomic bomb was tested, the first in the United States was the release of a hydrogen bomb from an aircraft and an explosion in the upper atmosphere; The world's first thermonuclear charge was tested on Eniwetok Atoll.
Although local population was forcibly evacuated from the islands-polygons, the settlements still remained dangerously close to the test sites. The US military did not interfere with this in order to explore the possibility of surviving in the area of ​​\u200b\u200ba possible theater of operations during the use of nuclear weapons. In this regard, the Americans included in the text of the agreement on the recognition of the independence of the Marshall Islands a clause on lump-sum compensation to the islanders without the possibility of demanding its further increase.
Nuclear tests were stopped, the contaminated radioactive soil was collected and buried in the mine, which was closed with a concrete lid. As a result of the tests, Bikini Atoll remained uninhabited until 2010, and Enewetak Atoll was declared safe for habitation in 1980.
Now in the Marshall Islands, only one Reagan Test Site continues to operate on Kwajalein Atoll, where missile tests are being conducted.
The Marshall Islands is heavily dependent on funds from the Asian Development Bank, the US and other countries around the world. The state's economy is focused on subsistence agriculture on small farms, the production of copra for export, and the processing of fish (mainly tuna). Due to the size of the fishing industry in the Marshall Islands, there is a serious problem of contamination of the Majuro Lagoon with waste from fish cannery and fishing fleets. Among the difficulties for the inhabitants of the islands is the lack of fresh water.
IN Lately there is a trend of migration outlying islands to the cities of Majuro on Majuro Atoll and Ebeye on Kwajalein Atoll, which affects the ecology of these areas and increases the pressure on rather limited resources.
There are few sights on the islands, and many of them are connected with the tragedies of the past. One of the most visited is Mili Atoll, where Japanese fortifications, traces of funnels, wreckage of American and Japanese B-25 Mitchell and A6M5 Zero combat aircraft have been preserved since the Second World War. The atoll is also known as the site where the American aviator Amalia Mary Earhart (1897-1937), the first female pilot to fly, is believed to have died. Atlantic Ocean.

general information

Location: Pacific North.

Official name: Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Administrative-territorial division: 24 municipalities (Ailinglapalap, Ailuk, Aur, Arno, Voto, Wotje, Jabvot, Jaluit, Kili, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Malaelap, Medjit, Mili, Namorik, Namu, Rongelap, Ujae, Utirik, Ebon, Enewetok).

Origin of the islands: volcanic, coral.

Administrative center: the city of Majuro - 27,797 people. (2011).
Languages: Marshallese, English (official).

Ethnic composition: Marshallese - 92.1%, mestizo - 5.9%, other (including Americans and Filipinos) - 2% (2006).

Religions: Protestantism 54.8%, "World Fellowship of the Assemblies of God" 25.8%, Catholicism 8.4%, Mormonism 2.1% (2008).

Currency unit: U.S. dollar.
The most important port: Majuro (Majuro atoll).

Major airport: Majuro-Marshall Islands International Airport.

Numbers

Population: 69,747
Population density: 385.3 people / km 2.

Urban population : 72% (2010).

Number of islands: 29 atolls, 5 single islands.
coastline length: 370.4 km.

highest point: unnamed hill on Lykiep (Yum) atoll.

Climate and weather

The wet season is from May to November.

Average annual temperature: +27.8°С.

Average annual rainfall: from 500-800 mm in the north to 4000 mm in the south.

Relative humidity: 75%.
There are typhoons.

Curious facts

The Marshall Islands have long been considered the pearl of Micronesia; these lands delight tourists with their natural abundance and centuries of history represented by numerous attractions.

Marshall Islands on the world map

On the territory of the boundless expanses of the Pacific Ocean in the heart of the legendary and mysterious Micronesia, an island nation called the Marshall Islands is located.

Today, this republic is under the patronage of America, but it is led by the local government. Southwestern and western regions The Marshall Islands border the Federated States of Micronesia and south side they are washed by the territorial waters of the Republic of Kiribati. The entire territory of the country literally bathes in the gentle waters of the Pacific Ocean, it occupies about thirty atolls and five separate islands, united in the Ratak and Ralik chains.

Republic of the Marshall Islands

In terms of land area, the Republic of the Marshall Islands ranks 213th in the world with its 180 square kilometers, where a little more than 53 thousand people live. Most of them live in the capital of the state called Majuro. The people of the country are well versed English language, but most often communicate with each other in the local marshal dialect.
One of the most picturesque Micronesian states is located near the equator and is a complex of small island territories and atolls in. That is why the Marshall Islands are located at a considerable distance from the world's continents. The coastline of the country stretches for 370 kilometers and is represented by luxurious picturesque lagoons. The largest island is called Kwajalein and occupies one sixth of the total territory of the state. The relief of many islands is characterized by plains and lowlands. As for the atolls, they are formed on the basis of ancient coral reefs that rise above sea level. An atoll called Lykiep is the highest altitude of the country, although it rises only ten meters above sea level. According to many scientists coral atolls formed under the influence of volcanic activity and rocks.
Almost the entire territory of the Marshall Islands is covered with velvety pinkish-cream sand, so the local beaches look really impressive and unforgettable. Along with the abundance of salty sea waters, there are not so many freshwater sources on the islands. There are practically no permanent rivers and lakes in the country, but after the rainy season, small flowing freshwater streams start dancing around the Marshall Islands. However, the local population is very successful in using The groundwater, digging original wells. island lands called Lib are also rich in freshwater ponds.
The natural wealth of the Marshall Islands was seriously damaged during the Second World War and then, when the Americans had their nuclear weapons, but the diversity of local flora and fauna does not cease to attract travelers from all over the world. Thickets of coconut palms cover more than 50 percent state territory, which is why coconuts and many other tropical crops form the basis of the diet of the inhabitants of the Marshall Islands. The so-called sea birds, which are home to more than 100 species, also deserve special attention.

When visiting the islands, a visa is issued.

Flag of the Marshall Islands

The national flag of this republic is a rectangular sky-blue canvas, from the lower left corner of which, like two light spectrums, two stripes of white and orange come out. They run exactly along the diagonal of the flag and end in the upper right corner. Another highlight of the flag is a snow-white star with 24 ends, located in the upper left corner. The northern, southern, eastern and western ends of the star are several times longer than the rest.

It is not difficult to guess that the deep blue color state flag The Marshall Islands appeared on it thanks to the Pacific Ocean. The snow-white stripe represents the chain of islands called Ratak, and also praises the peace in these lands. The orange color appeared here as a symbol of courage, heroism and courage, and is also the personification of the island lands called Ralik. As for the symbolic meaning of the star, it denotes the Christian cross and all the existing constituencies of the republic.

Climatic features of the Marshall Islands

The uniform climate of the Marshall Islands can hardly be called, since weather in these areas vary greatly from north to south. In addition, a similar trend is observed with precipitation. Most of them fall in southern regions countries. The northern regions of the island lands are characterized by dry tropical climate, so they are usually represented by deserts. The soils here are porous and retain moisture very poorly. The islands of the equatorial belt, located in the south, differ the maximum number fallen precipitation.
Also, these island territories of Micronesia are subject to the serious influence of the trade winds that came from the northeast. In the Marshall Islands, they bring moist air and tropical rain during the rainy season. At the same time, typhoons, storms and hurricanes often occur in the country. The reason for this may be the legendary temperature fluctuation, called El Niño. In the north, 1000-1600 millimeters of precipitation is observed every year, and in the southern regions of the country this figure can even increase to 4500 millimeters. The rainy season in the country begins in September-November, but for the south of the Marshall Islands, showers and light rains are typical all year round. Temperature indicators remain stable throughout the year, due to the proximity of the equator, and its average readings are 26-28 degrees Celsius. Tourists come here all year round.

Holidays in the Marshall Islands

Picturesque sandy beaches The Marshall Islands simply cannot but delight the eyes of travelers. Luxury hotels and inns with rooms for every taste and ocean views are lined up along the coastline. Free beaches there are very few here, since they are all assigned to one or another tourist complex, but impeccable cleanliness and golden sandy velvet are worth it.
Shoppers will certainly find something useful and interesting for themselves, as amazing handbags, wallets and traditional clothes are sold in local shops. You can get acquainted with the national flavor and cultural attractions of the Marshall Islands in a village called Laura Village. Its inhabitants still observe the ancient customs and traditions that appeared on these islands even before our era. It is also worth visiting the Alele Museum, which contains the most complete information about the ancient civilizations that existed on the Marshall Islands.
The coral atoll called Kwajalein will certainly delight even the most demanding tourists. Every year, enchanting military exercises of the American army take place there, which at night turns into a real theatrical performance with increasing cascades of explosions.
Rumor has it that the Marshall Islands are slowly but surely sinking due to global warming. That is why you should not miss such amazing lands Micronesia!

Marshall Islands or Republic of the Marshall Islands- Pacific state in Micronesia. It borders in the west and southwest with the territorial waters of the Federated States of Micronesia, in the south with the territorial waters of Kiribati, in other parts - with the neutral waters of the Pacific Ocean. The total land area is 181.3 km²; the territory occupied by lagoons - 11,673 km². The capital is Majuro.

The Marshall Islands represent a cluster of atolls (29) and islands (5) located in the Pacific Ocean slightly north of the equator and divided into two groups (chains): Ratak and Ralik.

Both chains are about 250 km apart and stretch from northwest to southeast for about 1200 km. The most important islands are the atolls of Kwajalein and Majuro. The largest island of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Kwajalein, is also an atoll with the largest lagoon in the world. Despite the fact that its land area is only 16.32 km² (or 6.3 sq. miles), the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe lagoon is 2174 km² (or 839.3 sq. miles). Highest point country, which reaches only 10 m, is located on the Likiep Atoll.

The Marshall Islands are home to 80 plant species, of which one species is endemic to the archipelago. Only on a few uninhabited islands The archipelago has preserved forests in which vegetation typical of atolls grows. On the rest of the island ecosystems have undergone significant changes under the influence of man: most of the local flora was destroyed, and plantations of coconut palms (covering approximately 60% of the land of the archipelago), breadfruit and bananas were planted instead of indigenous plants.

From 1946 to the 1960s, Americans tested nuclear weapons at Bikini and Enewetok. In 1954, the United States, codenamed Bravo, tested its first hydrogen bomb on Bikini Atoll. The explosion was 1000 times more powerful than the explosion in Hiroshima, and radioactive fallout from it fell on neighboring islands. Nuclear tests have caused enormous damage to the ecosystems of the islands.

The most important representatives local fauna are turtles and seabirds. On many northern islands, Bikar, Bokak, Bikini, green turtles lay their eggs, but previously widespread sea ​​turtle hawksbill has become rare in local waters. Many of the Marshall Islands are large bird colonies where seabirds nest (106 bird species in total). The coastal waters of the islands are very rich in fish (about 250 species) and corals (about 146 species).

There are no nature reserves or protected areas in the country.

Climate in the Marshall Islands

A distinctive feature of the climate of the Marshall Islands is the change climatic conditions from north to south, including an increase in precipitation in this direction. In the northern islands of the country, the climate is tropical, semi-arid. For example, on the northernmost atoll - Bokake, it is almost semi-desert. Rainfall in the Marshall Islands increases as you move south and reaches its maximum on Ebon Atoll, the country's southernmost island located in the equatorial belt.

Another important climatic feature local climate is the location of the Marshall Islands in the zone of northeast trade winds. During most of the year, the islands are dominated by winds blowing from the northeast. They are characterized by high humidity. On almost all islands (with the exception of the northernmost), showers often occur.

For the archipelago, tropical storms and hurricanes, or typhoons, are typical, although rare, during which precipitation is observed. a large number precipitation, strong winds breaking trees and destroying houses, as well as high waves that threaten to wash away the low-lying islets. Droughts happen. The most common cause of climate change is El Niño.

Monthly rainfall in the Marshall Islands is around 300-380 mm. On the northern islands of the country, from 1000 to 1750 mm of precipitation falls annually, on the southern islands 3000-4300 mm. On the northern islands, the most heavy rains occur from September to November, while in the south they fall all year round.

Temperature regime on the archipelago during the year remains constant. The difference between the coldest and warmest month is 1-2 °C. The lowest nighttime temperatures are usually 2-4 degrees above the lowest daytime temperature. The average annual temperature is 27.8 °C.

Population

Population of Marshall Islands- about 54,600 people (2011).

The average life expectancy for men is 65.7 years, for women - 69.4 years.

The majority of the population are Marshallese. This Micronesian people is divided into two ethnographic groups: Raylik and Rakhtak (in geography in a slightly different pronunciation: Ralik and Ratak, as the two island chains of the country are called).

The share of foreigners living in the country is only 2.3%: this is the lowest after the Northern Mariana Islands rate among the Pacific states. The largest non-Marshallese ethnic group is the Kosrae people from the island of Kusaiye in the Caroline Islands. The Marshall Islands also has a small population of Americans and Filipinos.

The official languages ​​are English and Marshallese (belongs to the Micronesian languages).

The dominant religion in the Marshall Islands is Christianity, spread in the archipelago by missionaries in the 19th century.

In 2008, the proportion of Protestants (Congregationalists of the Church of Christ) was 54.8%, followers of the Assembly of God - 25.8%, Catholics - 8.4%, Mormons - 2.1%.

About money

Monetary unit of the Marshall Islands - U.S. dollar($, US$, USD) equal to 100 cents.

In circulation are denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars, as well as coins: pennies (1 cent), nickel (5 cents), dime (10 cents), quarter (25 cents), half- dollar (50 cents) and 1 dollar.

Banks are located in almost all major tourist areas, their operating time is very different in each case. You can exchange currency at bank offices and specialized exchange offices.

Credit cards are quite limited in use, although most of the central offices of banks conduct all types of transactions with them. Traveler's checks can be cashed at Majuro and Kwajalein banks.

Communication and communications

Telephone code: 692

Internet domain: .mh

How to call

To call from Russia to the Marshall Islands, you need to dial: 8 - beep - 10 - 696 - subscriber's number.

To call from the Marshall Islands to Russia, you need to dial: 011 - 7 - area code - subscriber number.

Fixed line

On the atolls of Majuro, Ebeye and Kwajalein, a stationary telephone communications. Pay phones are located near the largest public institutions and retail outlets and work with prepaid cards. Calls to special services phones (usually starting with 800 or 888) are free of charge from any phone on the island.

On the other islands, satellite or radio communications are developed. Exit to international lines from here it is possible only through the operator, and communication with the inner atolls is charged as intercity.

mobile connection

The islands are served by US cellular operators and operate according to their standards and tariff plans. Coverage is limited to the inner group atolls.

Internet

On the larger islands, you can find a few Internet cafes. Internet cafes are usually open in weekdays from 9.00 to 17.00, on Saturdays - from 9.00 to 12.00, access points in the lobby of large hotels are open around the clock.

shopping

What you can bring from the Marshall Islands: various mats, traditional clothes and bags made from pandanus leaves, coconut palm and hibiscus.

On the island of Kili, beautiful women's bags and purses are weaved by people from the Bikini Atoll, and Lykiep is known for its fans.

Bargaining in the Marshall Islands is not accepted.

The usual opening hours of shopping establishments are Monday to Friday, from 08.00 to 12.00 and from 13.30 to 17.00, on Saturdays from 08.00 to 13.00, however, many private shops operate on their own schedule. Almost all shops are closed on Sundays, so essential items should be bought in advance.

Sea and beaches

Like the entire territory of the islands, the beaches of the resorts are a private territory, and access to them is, in principle, limited, although if you wish, you can easily negotiate with the hotel administration for a very nominal fee. The same permission - paid or simple verbal agreement - may be required when using community beaches, paths, coastal areas, and so on, so these points are best found out on the spot from hotel workers or the islanders themselves.

Story

ABOUT early history Very little is known about the Marshall Islands. Presumably, the islands were inhabited about 2000 years ago by immigrants from Southeast Asia.

The first island seen by Europeans was Bocaq Atoll, discovered by the Spanish navigator Alonso de Salazar in 1526. However, the archipelago remained unnamed until 1788, when the islands were rediscovered by the British captain John Marshall, after whom they were named. Subsequently, ships of many states sailed past the Marshall Islands, but none of them made territorial claims for the purpose of annexation. In the 1860s, the first immigrants from Germany began to appear on the islands. During these years, German trading companies developed a whole network of trade in copra and other goods. In 1885, the archipelago was annexed by the German Empire, despite claims from Spain.

During the First World War, in September 1914, Japan occupied part of Micronesia that belonged to Germany, including the Marshall Islands. Since then, the islands remained under the control of Japan until the occupation of the archipelago by the Americans during the Second World War. After a brief occupation of the islands by the US Army, the UN entrusted the administration of the Marshall Islands to the United States as a Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.

Soon, a strategic military base United States, from where control was exercised over nuclear weapons tests, which were carried out from 1946 to 1958. From a military point of view, the islands occupied a very advantageous position: small number population, huge bodies of water, which made it possible to observe the effect of radiation, and remoteness from the largest settlements in the United States. The inhabitants of the atolls where the tests were carried out were evacuated, however, the Marshallese neighboring islands were and are still being negatively affected by these tests: many islanders suffer from cancers caused by radiation.

In 1952, the first hydrogen bomb in the history of mankind was detonated on Eniwetok, and in 1954, on Bikini Atoll, the largest ever exploded by the United States (it is believed that it was equivalent to 1000 bombs dropped on Hiroshima, and due to the radiation caused, there were evacuated residents and military personnel from the islands of Rongelap, Rongerik, Utirik and Ailinginae). Since 1959, the Reagan Test Site has been operating on Kwajalein Atoll.

In 1979, the archipelago received limited autonomy, and in 1986 the Treaty of Free Association was signed with the United States, according to which the United States recognized the independence of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic, in turn, granted the United States military the right to be in the country; all military bases were also preserved. The defense of the country became the responsibility of the United States. In 1990, the United Nations recognized the independence of the Marshall Islands.

The association agreement expired in September 2001. After two years of negotiations, in 2003, the contract was extended.

Helpful information

The consumption of alcohol is practically prohibited on some of the islands. Alcoholic drinks on Sundays are not sold anywhere except in hotels, and even then only to their guests and guests. Open drinking of alcoholic beverages is also not accepted, regardless of the day of the week.

All tap water in the country is obtained by desalination of sea water and the collection of precipitation, therefore, within settlements practically safe to use. However, bottled water is still recommended.

Despite the US administration's statement about the radiation safety of the islands, one should avoid long stay in the Bikini and Kwajalein atolls.

best time to visit the Marshall Islands - from May to October, when the temperature is mostly constant, and sea ​​water most calm.

How to get to the Marshall Islands

Direct flights between Russia and the Marshall Islands.

The Marshall Islands are connected by direct flights to Guam and Honolulu (Hawaii, USA), there is also an air connection to the Caroline Islands (Chuuk Islands).

international Airport Majuro(MAJ) is located on the atoll of the same name. Flights from Honolulu and Guam are operated by Continental Airlines. Estimated flight time to Majuro: from Guam - 8:50, from Honolulu - 5:10, from the Chuuk Islands - 6:25.