NationMaster - Encyclopedia: 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. Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Marshall_Islands. ... Image File history File links Marshall_Islands_COA.png Description: Coat of arms of the Marshall Islands Source: Vector-images. ... ratio: 10:19 The flag of the Marshall Islands was adopted on May 1, 1979. ... Coat of arms of Marshall Islands The coat of arms of the Marshall Islands consists of a blue background, which represents the sea. ... Many countries choose to include the national motto in the coat of arms. ... A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that is evoking and eulogizing the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nations government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people. ... Forever Marshall Islands is the national anthem of the Marshall Islands. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... This is a list of national capitals of the world in alphabetical order. ... The people of the Marshall Islands are of Micronesian origin, which is traced to a combination of peoples who emigrated from Southeast Asia in the remote past. ... Lagoon shoreline on Majuro, February 1973 Majuro, population 25,400 (as of 2004), is the capital of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. ... An official language is a language that is given a privileged legal status in a state, or other legally-defined territory. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... List of Presidents of the Marshall Islands Categories: | ... Kessai Hesa Note (born August 7, 1950 in Ailinglaplap) is the president of the Marshall Islands. ... October 21 is the 294th day of the year (295th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 71 days remaining. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... To help compare sizes of different geographic regions, we list here areas between 10 kmÂ² (1000 hectares) and 100 kmÂ² (10,000 hectares). ... This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (â‰ˆ1,609 m) in length. ... This is a list of sovereign states and other territories by population, using the most recently available official figures. ... Population density by country, 2006 Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. ... Population density by country, 2006 List of countries and dependencies by population density in inhabitants/kmÂ². The list includes sovereign states and self-governing dependent territories that are recognized by the United Nations. ... The Purchasing power parity (PPP) theory was developed by Gustav Cassel in 1920. ... Map of world GDP (PPP) by country using the IMF list for 2005 There are three lists of countries of the world sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year). ... Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head. ... Map of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita, based on the 2005 IMF data. ... World map indicating Human Development Index (2004). ... This is a list of countries by Human Development Index as included in the United Nations Development Programmes Human Development Report 2006, compiled on the basis of 2004 data. ... ISO 4217 Code USD User(s) the United States, the British Indian Ocean Territory[1], the British Virgin Islands, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Panama, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the insular areas of the United States Inflation 2. ... ISO 4217 is the international standard describing three letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ... The following is a list of currently existing Internet Top-level domains (TLDs). ... .mh is the Internet country code top-level domain ( ccTLD) for Marshall Islands. ... This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E.164. ... An island nation is a country that is wholly confined to an island or islands. ...

History

Although they were 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 British captain John Marshall in 1788; the islands owe their name to him. Little is clearly understood about the prehistory of the Marshall Islands. ... The 2nd millennium BC marks the transition from the Middle to the Late Bronze Age. ... Alonso de Salazar was the first European (Spanish) explorer to discover the Marshall Islands on August 21, 1526. ... This article is 150 kilobytes or more in size. ... January 14 - Treaty of Madrid. ... John Marshall was born in Ramsgate,Kent,England on 15 February 1748. ... 1788 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

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. 1885 (MDCCCLXXXV) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... German New Guinea (Ger. ... Combatants Allied Powers: Russian Empire France British Empire Italy United States Central Powers: Austria-Hungary German Empire Ottoman Empire Bulgaria Commanders Nikolay II Aleksey Brusilov Georges Clemenceau Joseph Joffre Ferdinand Foch Robert Nivelle Herbert H. Asquith D. Lloyd George Sir Douglas Haig Sir John Jellicoe Victor Emmanuel III Luigi Cadorna... Mandates in the Middle east and Africa. ...

In World War II, the United States occupied the islands (1944), and they were added to the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (including several more island groups in the South Sea). Between 1946 and 1958 the United States tested 67 nuclear weapons in the Marshall Islands, including the largest nuclear test the United States ever conducted, Castle Bravo. Nuclear claims between the United States and the Marshall Islands are ongoing, and health effects still linger from these tests. (see Rongelap) Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki TÅjÅ Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... National motto: ? Official language English? Capital Saipan Area - Total - % water Ranked 78 (United States) 1,779 km² Negligible Population - Total - Density 132,929 (1980) N/Akm² GDP - Total - GDP/head N/A Currency US Dollar Time zone UTC: ? Independence UN trusteeship administered by the US Internet TLD none? Calling code... The mushroom cloud of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan, 1945, rose some 18 km (11 mi) above the epicenter. ... A nuclear test explosion is an experiment involving the detonation of a nuclear weapon. ... A black-and-white photograph of the Castle Bravo mushroom cloud. ... Rongelap Atoll is an island-atoll located in Micronesia. ...

In 1979 the Government of the Marshall Islands was officially established and the country became self-governing. In 1986 the Compact of Free Association with the United States entered into force, granting the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) its sovereignty. The Compact provided for aid and U.S. defense of the islands in exchange for continued U.S. military use of the missile testing range at Kwajalein Atoll. The independence was formally completed under international law in 1990, when the UN officially ended the Trusteeship status. For the song by The Smashing Pumpkins, see 1979 (song). ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Compact of Free Association (COFA) defines the relationship that three sovereign statesâ€”the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) and the Republic of Palauâ€”have entered into as Associated States with the United States. ... Infantry inspect a hole in the devasted Kwajalein Atoll Kwajalein Atoll is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), 2,100 nautical miles (3900 km) southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii, at 8. ... MCMXC redirects here; for the Enigma album, see MCMXC a. ...

On March 21, 2007 The government of the Marshall Islands declared a state of emergency after water ran out amid a prolonged drought.

Administrative divisions

The Marshall Islands have no formal administrative division, but are divided into twenty-six legislative districts, which correspond to the inhabited islands and atolls of the country: The Marshall Islands are divided into 33 municipalities: Ailinginae Ailinglaplap Ailuk Arno Aur Bikar Bikini Bokak Ebon Enewetak Erikub Jabat Jaluit Jemo Kili Kwajalein Lae Lib Likiep Majuro Maloelap Mejit Mili Namorik Namu Rongelap Rongrik Toke Ujae Ujelang Utirik Wotho Wotje Categories: Lists of municipalities | Marshall Islands | Lists of subnational...

Ailinglaplap is an atoll and municipality of 56 islands in the Pacific Ocean. ... Ailuk Atoll is an atoll of 55 islands in the Pacific Ocean. ... Arno Atoll is an atoll of 103 islands in the Pacific Ocean. ... Aur (left) and Maloelap (centre) Atolls Aur Atoll is an atoll of 42 islands in the Pacific Ocean. ... Ebon Atoll is an atoll of 22 islands in the Pacific Ocean. ... Aerial view of Enewetok and Parry. ... Jabat Island (or Jabot Island) is an in the Pacific Ocean. ... Jaluit Atoll is an atoll of 91 islands in the Pacific Ocean. ... Kili Island - NASA NLT Landsat 7 (Visible Color) Satellite Image Kili Island (also known as Kili Atoll) is a 0. ... Infantry inspect a hole in the devasted Kwajalein Atoll Kwajalein Atoll is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), 2,100 nautical miles (3900 km) southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii, at 8. ... Lae Atoll is an atoll of 20 islands in the Pacific Ocean. ... Lib Island (also known as Ellep Island) is an island in the Pacific Ocean. ... Likiep Atoll is an atoll of 65 islands in the Pacific Ocean. ... Majuro, population 25,400 (as of 2004), is sometimes mentioned as the capital of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. ... Maloelap Atoll The Maloelap Atoll is an atoll of 75 islands in the Pacific Ocean. ... Mejit is one of the few islands (rather than atolls) in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. ... For a disambiguation page for Mili, see Myloi, an alternative spelling of Mili. ... Namorik Atoll MH: Landsat Image N-59-00_2000 (1:50,000) Namorik Atoll MH: Marplot Map (1:50,000) Namorik Atoll MH: Locator Map. ... Namu Atoll is an atoll of 54 islands in the Pacific Ocean. ... Rongelap Atoll is an island-atoll located in Micronesia. ... Ujae Atoll is an atoll of 15 islands in the Pacific Ocean. ... Ujelang Atoll is an atoll of 30 islands in the Pacific Ocean. ... Utirik Atoll is an atoll of 10 islands in the Pacific Ocean. ... Wotho Atoll is one of the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean. ... Wotje Atoll is an atoll of 75 islands in the Pacific Ocean. ...

Geography

The country consists of twenty-nine atolls and five 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, consuming food that is either grown or caught, is superior to that of most of the urban residents, who rely considerably on white rice. A majority of the islands' land mass is at sea level. Download high resolution version (1042x1300, 155 KB)CIA map of RMI, from http://www. ... Download high resolution version (1042x1300, 155 KB)CIA map of RMI, from http://www. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Lagoon shoreline on Majuro, February 1973 Majuro, population 25,400 (as of 2004), is the capital of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. ... The Marshalls are comprised of 29 atolls and five major islands, which form two parallel groups--the Ratak (sunrise) chain and the Ralik(sunset) chain. ... An atoll is a type of low, coral island found in tropical oceans and consisting of a coral-algal reef usually surrounding an interior body of water called a lagoon. ... The Ratak Chain is a chain of islands within the island nation of the Marshall Islands. ... The Ralik Chain is a chain of islands within the island nation of the Marshall Islands. ... Lagoon shoreline on Majuro, February 1973 Majuro, population 25,400 (as of 2004), is the capital of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. ... Ebeye is the most populous island of Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, as well as the center for Marshallese culture in the Ralik Chain of the archipelago. ...

The climate is hot and humid, with a wet season from May to November. The islands occasionally suffer from typhoons. Many Pacific typhoons start in the Marshall Islands region and grow stronger as they move West toward the Mariana Islands and the Philippines. Ailinginae Atoll is an atoll of 25 islands in the Pacific Ocean. ... Bikar Atoll is made up of 7 islands with a land area of 0. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Bokak Atoll - NASA NLT Landsat 7 (Visible Color) Satellite Image Bokak Atoll (also known as Taongi Atoll) is an uninhabited 3. ... The Erikub Atoll is an atoll located in the central area of the Ratak Chain in the Marshall Islands. ... Jemo is an uninhabited island of the Marshall Islands north-east of Likiep Atoll. ... Rongerik Atoll - NASA NLT Landsat 7 (Visible Color) Satellite Image Map of Rongerik Atoll, taken from the 1893 map Schutzgebiet der Marshall Inseln, published in 1897. ... Cyclone Catarina, a rare South Atlantic tropical cyclone viewed from the International Space Station on March 26, 2004. ...

Economy

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. In 1999 a private company constructed a tuna loining plant, which employed upwards of 400 people, mostly women. The plant was closed in 2005, following a failed attempt to convert it from producing tuna loins to tuna steaks, a process that requires only half of the employee base. The owners noted that the plan would not be economically viable without government largesse and a reduction below the statutory minimum wage, neither of which the government cared to provide. As the guarantor of a $2 million loan to the business, the government took control of the plant facility following its closure, and is seeking to find another operator. The government of the Marshall Islands is the largest employer, employing 30. ... Binomial name Cocos nucifera L. For other uses, see Coconut (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Solanum lycopersicum L. Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults. ... Binomial name Cucumis melo L. The melon is the fruit and plant of a typically vine-like (climber and trailer) herb that was first cultivated more than 4000 years ago (~ 2000 BC) in Persia and Africa. ... Binomial name Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg The Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) is a tree and fruit native to the Malay Peninsula and western Pacific islands. ... Copra drying in the sun Copra is the dried meat, or kernel, of the coconut. ...

In 2005 Aloha Airlines canceled its flight services to the Marshall Islands as part of its withdrawal from several markets in the region. Though other international airlines still serve Majuro, the Aloha decision was a setback in the country's hopes of increased revenues from tourism. Aloha Airlines (IATA: AQ, ICAO: AAH, and Callsign: Aloha) is an airline headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii USA. It operates extensive scheduled services within the Hawaiian Islands, and between Hawaii and the West Coast of the United States. ...

Under the terms of the Amended Compact of Free Association, the US will provide millions of dollars per year to the Marshall Islands (RMI) through 2023, at which time a Trust Fund made up of US and RMI contributions will begin perpetual annual payouts. Government downsizing, drought, a drop in construction, the decline in tourism and foreign investment due to Asian financial difficulties, and less income from the renewal of fishing vessel licenses have held GDP growth to an average of 1% over the past decade. The Compact of Free Association (COFA) defines the relationship that three sovereign statesâ€”the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) and the Republic of Palauâ€”have entered into as Associated States with the United States. ...

The 2007 edition of "Doing Business," prepared by the World Bank's private sector development department, has declared the Marshall Islands to be the world's "Best Performer" for its ease and low expense in hiring and firing employees. By the same token, the same study gave the Marshall Islands extremely low ratings for its protection of investors and contract enforcement.

Not being among the 179 member countries of the ILO, Marshall Islands is among the handful of countries not obliged to abide by the core labour standards (elimination of forced labour, child labour and discrimination, and respect for freedom of association and right to collective bargaining) as required of ILO members. The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations to deal with labour issues. ...

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 foreign assistance. The main airport was built by the Japanese (during World War II), the only tarmac road of the capital was built partly by the Taiwanese and partly by the Americans. Kwajalein infrastructure and RTS headquarters, click to enlarge. ... Kwajalein Atoll - NASA NLT Landsat 7 (Visible Color) Satellite Image Kwajalein Atoll (Marshallese: Kuwajleen) is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki TÅjÅ Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

Demographics

The Marshallese are of Micronesian origin and migrated from Asia several thousand years ago. Although English is an official language and is spoken widely, though not fluently, Marshallese is used by the government. Japanese is also occasionally spoken in some areas of Marshall Islands. The people of the Marshall Islands are of Micronesian origin, which is traced to a combination of peoples who emigrated from Southeast Asia in the remote past. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

Virtually all Marshallese are Christian, most of them Protestant. Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Culture

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. Although now in decline, the Marshallese were once able navigators, using the stars and stick and shell charts. ... The Navigators is a worldwide Christian parachurch organization headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. Its main purpose is the discipling (training) of Christians with a particular emphasis on enabling them to share their faith with others. ... Celestial Navigation is the 15th episode of The West Wing. ... A wood-and-canvas canoe evokes the heritage of canoeing in North America A canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, but also commonly sailed. ... Annual, from the Latin annuum, or year means pertaining to a year or happening every year. ... A wood-and-canvas canoe evokes the heritage of canoeing in North America A canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, but also commonly sailed. ... R. M. Munroes 1898 proa A Proa is a multihull vessel consisting of two (usually) unequal parallel hulls, superficially similar to an outrigger canoe. ...

See also

Telephones - main lines in use: 3,000 (1994) Telephones - mobile cellular: 280 (1994) Telephone system: telex services domestic: Majuro Atoll and Ebeye and Kwajalein islands have regular, seven-digit, direct-dial telephones; other islands interconnected by shortwave radio, telephone (used mostly for government purposes) international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat... While the Government of the Marshall Islands is free to conduct its own foreign relations, it does so under the terms of the Compact of Free Association. ... Military branches: no regular military forces (a coast guard may be established); Police Force Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA% Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the United States References and Links Some information in this article has been taken from the CIA World... Scouting in the Marshall Islands is presently in a state of development and growth. ... Railways: 0 km Highways: total: NA km paved: 64,5 km unpaved: NA km note: paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwise stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and tracks (2002) Ports and harbors: Majuro Merchant marine: total: 342 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 14,471,690...

External links

Government Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Image File history File links Wikibooks-logo. ... Image File history File links Wikiquote-logo. ... Image File history File links Wikisource-logo. ... Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Image File history File links WikiNews-Logo. ... Image File history File links Wikiversity-logo-Snorky. ...

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Countries and territories of Oceania

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	Polynesia Image File history File links Polynesia. ... Carving from the ridgepole of a MÄori house, ca 1840 Polynesia (from Greek: Ï€Î¿Î»ÏÏ‚ many, Î½á¿†ÏƒÎ¿Ï‚ island) is a large grouping of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. ...	American Samoa · Clipperton Island · Cook Islands · French Polynesia · New Zealand · Niue · Pitcairn · Samoa · Tokelau · Tonga · Tuvalu · Wallis and Futuna