The Fiji Islands are among those countries that are rarely interested in anyone other than those who already live here. Perhaps in vain - this is a very interesting place, and it is definitely worth visiting here at least once in your life.

 

Fiji is one of the best known and most developed states in the Pacific, and its main islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, account for most of the land and concentrate over 90% of the total population. The island's inhabitants are a mixture of Indians, Polynesians and Malaysians and have one of the highest living standards in Oceania, although the country has suffered from ethnic conflicts at the end of the last century. The relief of these islands is volcanic, and the maximum height is on the island of Viti Levu where there is also the capital Suva (Tomaniivi peak 1,424 m high).

 

Bemorepanda collected top facts about Fiji Islands.

 

1. Over the past century and a half, the state of Fiji has changed five names.

 

2. The current name is the Republic of the Fiji Islands.

 

3. In Fiji, as many as three languages ​​have the status of state - English, Fijian and Hindustani.

 

4. The country's currency is the Fijian dollar.

 

5. Fiji has 332 islands, of which about a third are inhabited.

 

6. The highest point in Fiji is Mount Tomanivi, whose peak reaches 1324 meters above sea level.

 

7. Due to the lack of fresh water, the Fijians collect rainwater from roofs in special tanks.

 

8. There are rivers and lakes on the Fiji Islands.

 

9. More than three and a half thousand species of various insects live here.

 

10. Descendants of immigrants from India make up a third of Fiji's population, there are a little less than three hundred thousand people.

 

11. The Armed Forces of the Republic of the Fiji Islands take part in various UN peacekeeping activities around the world.

 

12. The most popular sport in Fiji is rugby.

 

13. On Fijian dollars there is an image of the Queen of England.

 

14. In Fiji, it is customary to go on a visit and take some gift for the hosts with you.

 

15. Fun fact - sunglasses in Fiji are prohibited, as are hats. They can only be worn by leaders.

 

16. Tipping in Fiji can be considered disrespectful.

 

17. In Fiji there is a line of change of dates - the 180th meridian.

 

18. There are as many as 28 airports in Fiji.

 

19. There are highways only on two islands. Cars, respectively, too.

 

20. About 87% of the population lives on the two largest islands of the archipelago.

The Republic of Palau is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. At least, this is how those who visit this island nation usually speak of it, admire the green islands growing from the sea surface and dive underwater, seeing with their own eyes the fantastic underwater world of Palau. It is as beautiful as the travel brochures promise.

 

Amazing facts about Palau

 

The country of Palau is, as it were, an independent state, but at the same time, as it were, not. It is associated with the United States; that is, it partially controls and undertakes, if necessary, to provide Palau with protection and patronage.

 

 

1. The Republic of Palau is one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

 

2. This is how those who visit this island nation usually speak of it, admire the green islands growing from the sea surface, and dive under the water, seeing with their eyes the fantastic underwater world of Palau.

 

3. Palau is an island state in the northwest of Oceania. It occupies the extreme western part of the arc of the Caroline Islands.

 

4. In the west and north, the country is washed by the waters of the Philippine Sea. The country consists of 26 large and more than 300 small islands. Most of the islands are covered with evergreen tropical forests.

 

5. They are divided into two groups: southwestern (Tobi Islands, Sonsorol Islands, and others) and the Palau Islands proper. Most uninhabited of the 328 islands that make up the Republic of Palau.

 

6. In the past, the Palau Islands belonged to Spain, Germany, Japan, and the United States.

 

7. The Republic of Palau received independence from the USA only in 1994, which makes it one of the youngest states in the world.

 

8. The official currency of Palau is the US dollar.

 

WATERFALLS OF PALAU

 

9. About 21 thousand people live in the entire Republic of Palau. This is about 600 times less than in Moscow. And from year to year, it practically does not change.

 

10. English here has official status on a par with Palauan, but in practice, only about 15% of the population speaks it. Primarily those who work with tourists.

 

11. Almost all Palauans profess various denominations of Christianity, but about 9% adhere to the Modekngei religion, which is not found in other countries. It combines elements of Christianity and traditional local beliefs.

 

12. The Spanish navigators called these islands “Enchanted” because they could not reach them due to storms and strong headwinds, although they tried repeatedly.

 

13. The climate here is one of the best on the planet - all year round, the air temperature here is from 25 to 30 degrees, give or take.

 

14. Precipitation here is more than 3000 mm per year, and humidity averages about 80%. February and March are the driest months, while June to August is a period of prolonged tropical rains.

 

15. Typhoons are rare here, as Palau is outside the typhoon belt, but sometimes they still sweep over the islands (usually between June and December). The island's water temperature is about 20 ° C all year round.

 

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF PALAU

 

16. An important attraction is the National Museum of Palau - a good enough place to understand the national culture and history.

 

17. Here, you can also find several interesting natural and ethnographic exhibits: the head of a 5-meter crocodile, the largest ever caught on the islands, beads, and money from shells, sea charts from cords and sticks, carvings and other items of local history and crafts, a beautiful traditional "bai" (joint meeting center) made of wood and straw, as well as a small collection of Japanese military equipment from World War II.

 

CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL MUSEUM

 

18. The Dolphin Center near the coast of Koror, the International Center for the Study of Coral Reefs with a beautiful aquarium, deserves attention here.

 

19. The best resort complex in the country is Palau Pacific Resort, with an extensive range of entertainment, a first-class dive center, and a secluded resort complex Carolines Resort.

 

20. Here is the famous Blue Corner dive site (closer to the Rock Islands), where you can expect to meet any sea creature - there is an incredible variety of fish and crustaceans, nurse sharks, barracudas soft and hard corals.

 

UNDERWATER WORLD IN THE WATER WASHING PALAU

 

21. About 130 sharks live in the waters washing the shores of Palau. And there are about 1500 species of other fish.

 

22. There is no army at all in this country.

 

23. There are no political parties here.

 

24. Here is one of the natural wonders of the world, Jellyfish Lake, which several million of them exist. They have bred so much due to the lack of natural enemies and therefore have lost the ability to sting.

 

25. the giant bivalve mollusks in the world live in the coastal waters of Palau - giant tridacna, up to 2 meters in diameter and weighing up to 220-250 kilograms.

 

ANGAUR ISLAND

 

26. Angaur Island, or Ngeur (only 8 square kilometers), is the southernmost in the Palau group of islands. This is a somewhat mysterious and calm place with only two villages and 188 inhabitants.

 

27. This island became famous for its phosphate mines, which the Germans began to develop in 1909. Now, on the site of mines and quarries, green ponds serve as the home of a small colony of crocodiles.

 

28. By the way, this is also the only place in the country where monkeys live - macaques that escaped from the cages of German miners at one time formed an utterly independent population and feel great among the green thickets of Angaur.

 

29. Another unique feature of the island is the dominance of the three official languages ​​- English, Japanese, and Angaur (Western Austronesian group), as well as the country's first casino, opened by the national congress's decision in 2003.

 

30. There is virtually no crime in Palau.

 

CITY OF KOROR IN PALAU

 

31. Koror - the economic center and former capital of Palau - is located on the island of the same name. Now it is a much less vibrant city compared to the time when it was dominated by the Japanese, with a leisurely Micronesian pace of life, with a complete absence of crowds and bustle.

 

32. Here you can still find the remains of the traditional past, but at best this city is an excellent place to relax for a day or two, no more. But from here, starting a trip to Peleliu, Angaur, the Rock Islands, and many popular dive sites is very convenient.

 

33. The underwater world of Palau is vibrant. The vertical walls of the rocks, sheerly going into the abyss, are covered with a variety of bright corals - these are soft corals and fans of gorgonians and openwork colonies of macroporous corals. The total number of coral species in Palau reaches 700.

 

34. Various invertebrates live among the corals: starfish, Gorgon's Head brittle stars, crabs and shrimps, sea urchins, colorful nudibranchs, and huge pleurobranchia. At the bottom, huge tridacnas with bright mantles of different colors are visible: emerald green, blue, and purple.

 

35. Various tropical fish live near coral thickets, including giant Napoleon fish. In the water column near the steep outer walls of the reefs, pelagic fish are found in large numbers: tuna, marlin, mackerel, and barracuda.

 

 

36. In the Ulong Channel - a natural channel in the barrier reef - at a depth of 20 meters on a sandy plateau at the entrance to the track, whitetip and gray reef sharks constantly swim with cleaner fish. Diving with whitetip and gray reef sharks is unforgettable.

 

37. Saltwater crocodiles are found in Palau, and dives with crocodiles are organized for lovers of the exotic.

 

38. In addition to diving in the sea, dives are organized in Lake Medusa. The jellyfish here are similar to the Black Sea corners but differ in their orange color and the fact that they have lost their stinging cells during evolution. Dives are carried out in the first set; below 10 meters, the water is toxic.

 

39. Just 35 kilometers south of Koror are the famous Rock Islands - one of the best places for outdoor activities in the Pacific Ocean. The mushroom-shaped limestone rocks of this island group (about 200 islets and reefs in total) are covered with a robust vegetation cap, and the waters around are considered one of the most abundant places on Earth. Therefore they serve as a recognized Mecca for divers.

 

40. The main points of attraction here are the famous Ngemelis coral wall, which begins at the surface of the water and goes to a depth of 300 meters with a continuous cover of sponges, soft corals, gorgonians, and giant black coral “trees.”

 

BEACHES ON THE ROCK ISLANDS

 

41. Also, on the Rock Islands, there are many snow-white shores of coral sand, caves with stalactites and underground channels, ancient petroglyphs (especially on the island of Oolong), and other traces of ancient peoples (fascinating is the quarry where stone money of the Yapese culture was made, located in a cave near Airer-Channel).

 

42. There is no public transport in Palau at all. All residents use their vehicles.

 

43. And the guests of this state have only two options - to rent a car or a motorcycle or to use a costly taxi.

 

44. Due to the particular historical conditions of the country, it is impossible to single out any specific local cuisine here. Most traditional island dishes are variations on recipes from Polynesian and Melanesian peoples, with a substantial admixture of Japanese, Filipino and American cuisine.

 

45. The main elements of the traditional cuisine of Palau are coconut milk and copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes, and all kinds of fish and seafood.

 

46. ​​Diplomatic relations between Palau and Russia were established only in 2006.

 

47. The only products exported here are coconut meat (copra) and some seafood.

 

48. Theft is not universal in Palau.

 

49. Slightly less than 10% of residents are not literate.

 

50. Locals are eager to help tourists determine the best fishing spots, so marlin, sailfish, tuna, mahi-mahi, and wahoo in a center and a half are not rare guests in the catches of sport fishing enthusiasts.