Marshall Islands Map

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

Marshall Islands on the world map

On the territory of the boundless expanses of the Pacific Ocean in the very heart of the legendary and mysterious Micronesia is located Island state called the Marshall Islands.

Today, this republic is under the patronage of America, but it is led by the local government. The southwestern and western regions of the Marshall Islands border the Federated States of Micronesia, and on the southern 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 area occupied, 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. Residents of the country speak excellent English, but most often communicate with each other in the local Marshallese 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 country's coastline stretches for 370 kilometers and is represented by luxurious picturesque lagoons. The largest island is called Kwajalein and occupies a sixth of the total territory of the state. The topography of many islands is characterized by plains and lowlands. As for atolls, they are formed on the basis of ancient coral reefs that rise above sea level. An atoll called Likiep is the country's highest altitude, although it rises only ten meters above sea level. According to many scientists, coral atolls were formed under the influence volcanic activity and breeds.
Almost the entire territory of the Marshall Islands is covered with velvety pinkish-cream sand, so 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 or lakes in the country, but after the rainy season, small flowing freshwater streams dance across the Marshall Islands. However, the local population very successfully uses groundwater by digging unique wells. The island lands called Lib are also rich in freshwater ponds.
The natural wealth of the Marshall Islands suffered greatly during the Second World War and then when the Americans launched their nuclear weapons, but the diversity of local flora and fauna continues to attract travelers from all over the world. Coconut palm trees cover more than 50 percent of the state's territory, so coconuts and many other tropical crops form the basis of the Marshall Islands' diet. The so-called seabirds, of which more than 100 species live here, 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 canvas of sky blue, from the lower left corner of which, like two light spectrums, emerge two stripes of white and orange. They run exactly diagonally along the flag and end in the upper right corner. Another highlight of the flag is the 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 rich blue color of the national flag of 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 peace in these lands. The orange color appeared here as a symbol of bravery, heroism and courage, and is also the personification of the island lands called Ralik. As for the symbolic meaning of the star, it stands for the Christian cross and all the existing constituencies of the republic.

Climatic features of the Marshall Islands

The climate of the Marshall Islands can hardly be called uniform, since weather conditions in these territories vary greatly from north to south. In addition, a similar trend is observed with precipitation. Most of them fall in the southern regions of the country. The northern regions of the island lands are characterized by a 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, are distinguished by the maximum amount of precipitation.
Also, these island territories of Micronesia are seriously influenced by trade winds coming from the northeast. They bring humid air and tropical downpours to the Marshall Islands 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 in the south of the Marshall Islands showers and light rain are typical all year round. Temperatures 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. Along the coastline there are luxury hotels and inns with rooms for every taste and views of the ocean. There are very few free beaches here, since they are all assigned to one or another tourist complex, but the impeccable cleanliness and golden velvet sand are worth it.
Shopping lovers will certainly find something useful and interesting for themselves, as local shops sell amazing handbags, wallets and traditional clothing. You can get acquainted with the national color and cultural attractions of the Marshall Islands in a village called Laura Village. Its inhabitants still observe 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 in the Marshall Islands.
The coral atoll called Kwajalein will certainly delight even the most discerning 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.
There are rumors that the Marshall Islands are slowly but surely sinking due to global warming. That's why you can't miss these amazing lands Micronesia!

	Official name:	Republic of the Marshall Islands (Aolepan Aorokin Majel)
	Capital:	Majuro
	The area of ​​the land:	181.4 sq. km
	Total Population:	95 thousand people
	Population composition:	Marshallese. This is a Micronesian people, which is divided into two ethnographic groups: Raylik and Rahtak (in geography in a slightly different pronunciation: Ralik and Ratak are the names of the country's two island chains). 3% are foreigners.
	Official language:	English, Marshallese (related to Micronesian languages), Japanese.
	Religion:	54.8% are Protestants, 25.8% are followers of the Assembly of God, 8.4% are Catholics, 2.1% are Marmons.
	Internet domain:	.mh
	Mains voltage:	~120 V, 60 Hz
	Telephone code countries:	+692
	Country barcode:
	Timezone:

Climate

Tropical trade wind, in the south - subequatorial, sea.

The average air temperature all year round remains around +27 C, with short “colder” periods (+20-24 C) occurring in September - November. From June to August is the hottest time of the year, although in fact the difference between the coolest and warmest months rarely exceeds an average of 2-3 C. Also interesting feature local weather is the night temperature, which, although lower than the daytime temperature, is actually 2-4 degrees higher than the average daily minimum. This is explained simply - nights almost always go without rain, which usually falls in the form of powerful downpours during the daytime.

The water temperature remains within +20-23 C all year round.

Precipitation is about 2000-4000 mm per year. The relatively dry season is recorded from January to March, the wet season occurs from May to November. The vast majority of precipitation falls during daylight hours. Like others island groups Pacific Ocean, the weather here is usually very cloudy - most of the day a thin veil of stratus clouds or a powerful “wall” of cumulus clouds hangs over the islands.

Quite strong, but noticeably relieving the heat, trade winds blow over the Marshall Islands almost all year round. Powerful tropical storms and typhoons are quite rare in these parts, since they simply do not have time to gain their destructive power when they originate in the equatorial latitudes. However, in the period from March to April or from October to November, quite strong atmospheric fronts and cyclones are observed here, bringing with them short-term changes in weather and rough seas.

Geography

The Marshall Islands are located in the western Pacific Ocean, in Micronesia. The islands are grouped into two main chains - Ratak ("Sunrise" - 14 atolls and about 470 islands) in the east and Ralik ("Sunset" - 15 atolls and about 680 islands) in the west, spaced 250 km from each other and stretching for general direction from northwest to southeast. In total, the archipelago includes 1,152 islands, atolls and reefs scattered across the Pacific Ocean over an area of ​​over 1.9 million square meters. km. Despite the huge size of the occupied territory, most atolls have a very limited land area (on average no more than 10 sq. km).

The islands lie approximately 4,100 km southeast of Japan, 4,100 km southwest of Hawaii ( Papua New Guinea. The closest neighbors are other states of Micronesia - Ponape and Caroline Islands in the west, Nauru and Kiribati in the south and Wake Atoll (USA) in the north.

Flora and fauna

Vegetable world. The vegetation of the atolls is sparse. The coconut palm is the most important plant of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands itself. It serves as a source of food products, raw materials for the manufacture of textiles, and building material or fuel. In addition to the coconut palm, plants brought here by people grow on the islands - breadfruit, pandanus, taro, arrowroot, yams, tapioca, bananas and various melons.

Animal world. Hundreds of species of coral can be found in the waters around the atolls, as well as 250 species of reef fish, five species of sea turtles, about 20 species of crustaceans, and a variety of marine mammals. But the terrestrial fauna is not rich - approximately 70 species of birds live here, including more than 30 marine species, about 7 species of reptiles (including the only species of reptile - the blind snake) and the only representative of mammals - the Polynesian rat, as well as the ubiquitous crabs.
Dangerous plants and animals

There are no natural foci of malaria on the islands, but there are irregular outbreaks of tropical fever, spread by mosquitoes and sand fleas. Therefore, it is recommended to carry insect repellents and use various mosquito nets. Lots of birds and insects. Coastal waters abound in fish. Jellyfish, poisonous fish and corals also pose a great danger. sea ​​urchins, as well as sea snakes. There are no sharks or other dangerous marine life in the waters of the lagoons, but they are found in abundance near the outer contours of the reef, so all dives in the open sea should be carried out only in the company of experienced local instructors.

Attractions

The first Micronesian sailors reached the atolls of the modern Marshall Islands approximately between 2000 and 500 BC. Frankly little is known about the origin or culture of these ancient sailors, but traces of their stay are found in the form of mysterious structures throughout the region, which causes sincere amazement at the skill of the ancient peoples of the sea, capable of crossing such colossal expanses of the ocean without navigational instruments or maps. The sparsely populated islands of the archipelago have not been united under any single leader for many centuries, although one tribal chief often ruled several atolls or even a large group of them, but the entire archipelago was not ruled by a single chief, unlike the more southern islands of the region. spread.

In the era of the Great geographical discoveries The Marshall Islands passed the attention of European explorers. In 1494, in accordance with the Treaty of Tordesillas, the entire territory of Micronesia ceded to Spain, but the Marshall Islands, which remained aloof from the main trade routes, fell under the rule of the crown “wholesale”, without any exploration. In 1525, Alonso de Salazar became the first European to approach the shores of the islands, but Spain did nothing to explore or colonize them. Only 200 years later, in 1788, the islands again saw the sails of a European ship - this time it was the English captain John Marshall, in whose honor the archipelago received its modern name. And at the beginning of the 19th century, the Russian explorer Otto von Kotzebue, during his expeditions, first compiled detailed maps of the water area and the archipelago, giving names to a number of atolls.

In 1885, Germany declared the Marshall Islands a protectorate. In 1914, at the very beginning of the First World War, the islands were captured by Japan, which continued to administer them after the war under a League of Nations mandate. In early 1944, American troops occupied Kwajalein, followed by the entire Marshall Islands, turning Majuro into a major naval station. In 1947, the archipelago was included in the UN Trust Territory of Micronesia (then UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands - TTPA), administered by the United States. In 1946-1958, the United States conducted a series of tests of atomic and hydrogen bombs on the Bikini and Enewetak atolls (in total different time 23 nuclear charges were detonated here), and a missile testing site was set up on Kwajalein.

In May 1979, the Marshall Islands seceded from the PTTO, gained the right of self-government and received the name the Republic of the Marshall Islands. In 1983, the Marshall Islands Compact of Free Association with the United States was signed, ratified by the US Congress in January 1986 and entered into force in October of the same year.

These days, the Marshall Islands are a very exotic and often inaccessible, but very unusual choice for travelers who want to take a break from civilization and visit one of Micronesia's lost in the ocean coral atolls, since this area has a very friendly population and beautiful shores, famous for its rich underwater life , and is also filled with magnificent underwater landscapes and is rich in relics from the Second World War.
Majuro Atoll

Majuro is the political and economic center of the islands. More than half the country's population lives here and the main administrative and commercial institutions are concentrated here. The atoll consists of 57 small islands, the most significant of which are connected by the only 55-kilometer road on the islands, which turns Majuro into one long and narrow island. Robert Louis Stevenson, when visiting Majuro in 1889, called the atoll the “Pearl of the Pacific,” but with the development of the tourism industry, the atoll that can be seen today acquired many additional advantages in the form of a completely modern recreational infrastructure, carefully combined with island traditions. The three islands of Majuro - Delap, Aliga and Derrit (Rita) - are united into a separate municipality, forming the capital of the archipelago and one of the most densely populated places in Pacific Ocean. This is not at all" tropical paradise under the palm trees", but a completely modern place with a small selection of attractions.

Located in the city center, the Alele Museum (open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm) is small in size, but its quality exhibits present the early culture of the Marshall Islands, famous nautical charts from ingenious knots and pieces of wood woven into them, along which the ancient sailors of Micronesia made their way in the endless Pacific Ocean, models of canoes, weapons and tools without a single piece of metal, as well as various utensils ("alele" - a traditional wicker basket-bag of the peoples Oceania, made from pandanus leaves). Nearby are the library and the National Archives, named by tradition after the same piece of utensils, which is on Marshall Islands considered a symbol of value and knowledge.

A visit to Laura Village on the far western side of the atoll provides an insight into the rural lifestyle of the islanders, which has not changed much since Stevenson's time. At the same time, in Laura Village, next to the airport, there is best beach atoll with its popular Laura resort Beach Resort, as well as the Majuro Peace Park war memorial, built by the Japanese and dedicated to all those who died in the fierce battles of World War II in the Pacific.

Tourists will also be sure to be shown a sorghum processing factory and the modernist building of the local Capitol, and the Ocean Reefs and Aquariums (ORA) marine farm, famous for the giant shellfish bred here (they hold events here 3 times a week). organized excursions, the cost of which is approximately $5 per person), traditional http://www.wamprogram.org/ Marshall Islands Canoe House (Waan Aelon) in Majola, near the Marshall Islands Resort, Tobolar copra factory and monument to the victims of the 1918 typhoon years at the very tip of Laura (since typhoons are very rare in these parts, the hurricane of 1918, which struck the southern atolls and killed 200 people, was long remembered by local residents, as well as the contribution of the Emperor of Japan to the restoration of Majuro).

Arno Atoll is the closest atoll to Majuro, they are separated by only 15 km. This atoll has 133 islands with a total area of ​​13 square kilometers. km, and its deep-sea lagoon occupies 339 sq. km. In fact, this is not one atoll, but three, “fused” during the formation of coral reefs into one ring of irregular shape. It has its own airfield with two runways, and is home to almost 1,700 people. Its main attraction is the Langor region, better known as the “school of love”, where, before the arrival of Europeans, young women were taught the art of sexual games and family life. Many scientists are even inclined to believe that this place was the forerunner of the famous Japanese medieval school of geishas. These days, the waters off Langor are known for excellent conditions for deep-sea fishing (marlin, yellowfin tuna, mahi-mahi and sailfish are found here in abundance), as well as for secluded recreation.
Kwajalein Atoll

Kwajalein is the largest coral atoll in the region, consisting of 97 islands with a total area of ​​16.4 square kilometers. km, forming an extremely narrow strip of land (120 meters at the widest part) around a huge lagoon about 130 km long and up to 32 km across (water surface area about 2850 sq. km). Kwajalein Lagoon, often called "the hand of the world's greatest catcher" (the islanders, like all Oceanian peoples, are famous for their ability to give long and meaningful names to various objects), is the target and splashdown point for US intercontinental ballistic missiles launched from Vanderburgh Air Force Base in California, 6,700 km from here. Tests most often take place at night, lighting up the sky with fireworks and cascades of explosions, thereby attracting a considerable number of tourists who prefer to watch such an exotic spectacle from a safe distance.

Apart from this unusual spectacle, which not everyone gets to see (the launches themselves are infrequent, and access to Kwajalein is limited for obvious reasons), the only noteworthy object here is the Marshall Islands Cultural Center, which is dedicated to the protection and popularization of the culture and historical traditions of the islanders. Supported by the local Cultural Society and the capital's Alele Museum, the center contains many interesting objects and exhibits that can be seen on regular exhibitions.
Mili Atoll

Located at the southern end of the Rataka chain, approximately 25 km southeast of Majuro and Arno, Mili Atoll is considered the second largest in the Marshall Islands - its 84 (according to other sources - 92) islets occupy a total area of ​​14.9 square meters. km, and the almost completely closed central lagoon is 763 sq. km.

Mili Atoll - a good choice for travelers. One of Japan's main bases in World War II, Mili has many abandoned weapons, and the skeletons of warplanes and defensive structures are still scattered throughout the area. The main village of the atoll, usually called Mili-Mili, contains on its territory more than six dozen different relics of that war - since local law does not allow the export of anything that is the “right of this land”, here you can see and extensive system Japanese bunkers, and dilapidated artillery positions (the US Navy artillery “processed” this small piece of land for 30 days before the landing of the Marine Corps, so the island is literally pitted with old craters), and even two irreconcilable enemies - the American B-25 Mitchell medium bomber and the Japanese the A6M5 "Zero" fighter, whose remains still lie very close.

In 1937, the famous American aviator Emilia Earhart disappeared in this part of the Pacific Ocean, and the mystery surrounding her disappearance is still one of the reasons that attracts hundreds of underwater archaeologists to the Mile (the remains of the plane and crew are believed to have been found on the island of Tinian in the Mariana Islands, but this does not prevent divers from exploring the adjacent waters again and again). The ocean shores of the atoll abound in shells and are considered some of the best in the world for collecting these seafood, while the shores of the lagoon white sand perfect for sunbathing and swimming.
Votje Atoll (Rumyantseva)

Almost rectangular in plan, Wotje Atoll (area 8 sq. km, lagoon area - 624 sq. km) consists of 10 nearby smaller atolls (about 75 islets in total) and is known as the “garden center of the Marshall Islands” for its lush vegetation tropical forest. The huge defensive structures and artillery positions built by the Japanese during the defense of the islands during the Second World War, as well as the base of the N8K "Emily" flying boats, capable of "reaching" from here all the way to the Hawaiian island of Oahu, led to fierce bombing of Wotier by aircraft during the Second World War US Navy. Some buildings from that time, barely visible from under the dense cover of the jungle, can be found on the atoll today.

Right in the center of the village of the same name there is a large collection of Japanese military equipment and weapons (many examples are quite capable of moving independently). The lagoon is also full of remnants of the past war, including several ships, including the Bordeaux Maru, which was sunk on February 1, 1942, and several warplanes. The shores of the lagoon are very beautiful and relatively clean. The nearby small islands are even better holiday destinations than the main atoll, as they are mostly uninhabited and therefore pristine, and many of them can be easily reached on foot at low tide.
Mejit Atoll

The secluded coral island of Medjit (in the local dialect its name sounds completely unpronounceable - Mrdzhej) is located east of the main line of the Rataka chain, about 85 km northeast of Votje (Rumyantsev) Atoll. Occupying an area of ​​only 1.86 square meters. km and inhabited by 450 inhabitants, it is one of the smallest landmass in the Marshall Islands. This is a very beautiful island, covered with lush taro trees and abounding in coconut trees, breadfruit trees and pandanus trees. Medjit is one of the few without a protective lagoon, so fishing and unloading boats here can be quite risky, especially in November and December when the winds are strong. But Medzhit has a small freshwater lake, a rarity in these parts, which makes it a truly unique (and amazingly colorful) place, especially during the period when algae floats on its surface.

California Beach on the northwest side of the island is a great place for swimming and snorkeling, and the waters around the island are widely recognized as some of the best fishing in the world. And what really sets Medjit apart from all the Marshall Islands is the complete absence of poisonous fish in the local waters, which is very rare for the region. The island is also famous for its pandanus leaf mats, which are woven by the islanders, as well as the quality of its schools, both general education (which is very important for the islands) and diving schools.
Maloelap Atoll

One of the largest atolls of the Marshall Islands, Maloelap-Taroa, or Tarawa (not to be confused with Tarawa in the Kiribati Islands), is located in the Rataka chain slightly north of Majuro. Its main islets (Eiruk, Jang, Kaven, Tharwa and Walot, totaling 71 islands with a total area of ​​9.8 sq. km) are located on a continuous strip of reef around a beautiful lagoon covering 972 sq. km. km (the fourth largest lagoon among the Marshall Islands). Only the western side of the lagoon is broken by several channels and passages in the reef wall, making the atoll an excellent anchorage.

The island was the main Japanese air force base in the eastern Marshall Islands during World War II, so today most tourists come here to see the rusting relics of the war. Throughout the atoll you can find numerous wrecks of Zero fighters and Betty bombers, an airfield, anti-aircraft positions and even several quite well-preserved howitzers. Most of the relics of that war are hidden under the thick jungle canopy, but the islanders are happy to give tours of the sites of battles and discovered weapons. Directly opposite the beach of Taroa Lagoon, in shallow water, the Japanese cargo ship Toroshima Maru, sunk by American bombers, still lies. And in the waters of the lagoon and reefs it lives great amount living creatures, which creates excellent conditions for diving and snorkeling.

15 km south of Maloelap (120 km north of Majuro) lies the small Ur (Aur) atoll, consisting of the islands of Tabal, Ur, Bigen and 39 small islets, which have a total area of ​​5.6 square meters. km. The lagoon they surround is deep (over 80 meters) and has an area of ​​about 240 square meters. km.

This atoll is quite traditional and is considered one of the best places in the archipelago to get acquainted with the traditions of the islanders. Almost all traditional crafts and activities practiced today on Ur are a complete copy of the age-old skills of the Sea Peoples. Locals specialize in creating traditional canoes and large wall hangings from palm leaves, seaweed and shells. The beautiful Ura Lagoon provides excellent diving conditions, here big variety tropical fish and coral, and turtles and small sharks are the most common inhabitants.

Not far from Ur are the Bikar and Taongi (Bokaak) atolls, which are actively preparing to obtain their status national parks of worldwide significance. The latter is perhaps the only example of a completely natural, unmodified semi-arid coral atoll ecosystem. Bicar has a particularly large population of green sea turtles.
Bikini Atoll

The uninhabited Bikini Atoll (Pikinni) lies at the northern end of the Ralik chain, approximately 850 km northwest of Majuro. The atoll consists of an almost continuous reef "frame", broken by a network of Enirik, Enyu and Rukoji straits only on the south side. 36 Bikini islands occupy only 6 square meters. km area, and its deep central lagoon has an area of ​​about 594 sq. km at a depth of about 55 meters.

Quite famous until the mid-20th century for its beautiful lagoon, many sunken ships from the Second World War and free morals (the bikini swimsuit got its name in honor of this popular area, although the author of this item of clothing claimed that it simply had the same effect in Puritan society of the 50s, like an exploding atomic bomb, and was presented to the public just during the days of testing of these weapons), after the war it became quite notorious - from 1946 to 1958, more than two dozen tests of nuclear devices were carried out here, including the first practical hydrogen bomb, “Castle Bravo” in 1954, so the entire local population was removed from the atoll to Rongerik and Kili. In 1968, the United States declared Bikini habitable, and residents began returning to the atoll. However, by 1978, the levels of strontium in their tissues had reached alarming levels, and Bikini was once again depopulated.

Today, the Bikini Lagoon is a real accumulation of relics of the Second World War, therefore, despite the danger of radiation sickness, in the last 10 years real diving tours have been held here for extreme sports enthusiasts, who are attracted not only by sunken ships, but also by colossal accumulations of living organisms inhabiting the lagoon (not worth it). forget that for more than 60 years no one here hunted sea animals or fished, and the background radiation led to the formation of an analogue of the “Chernobyl zone”, in which a huge number of sea creatures demonstrate the amazing flexibility of natural communities in relation to the most unfavorable environmental conditions) .

Banks and currency

Banks are located in almost all major tourist areas, their operating time varies greatly in each specific case.

You can exchange currency at bank offices and specialized exchange offices. The Bank of the Marshall Islands has several branches in Majuro and Ebeye. The Bank of Guam has a branch on Majuro (the only ATM on the island is located here).

Credit cards are quite limited in use, although most bank central offices carry out all types of transactions with them. Visa, Mastercard and American Express are accepted for payment in most large commercial establishments in the central atolls; in the periphery it is difficult to use non-cash means of payment.

Travel checks can be cashed at banks in Majuro and Kwajalein.

US dollar ($, US$, USD), equal to 100 cents. In circulation there are bills in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars, as well as coins: penny (1 cent), nickel (5 cents), dime (10 cents), quarter (25 cents), half- dollar (50 cents) and 1 dollar.

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The Marshall Islands are a small island nation associated with the United States that is located in Micronesia, just north of the equator. Total area - 181.3 sq. km, and the population according to 2008 estimates is 61,000 people.

Marshall Islands on the world map

The capital, the city of Majuro, is located on the atoll of the same name, 3438 km west of Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii, and is the main national political and economic center of this small state. All the islands and atolls of the Marshall Islands are divided into two groups: the Ralik chain and the Ratak chain.
The most important and largest island is Kwajalein, which has the world's largest lagoon with an area of ​​2174 square meters. km. Kwajalein Atoll is also famous for the fact that missiles launched during tests from the US Air Force Base Vanderberg in California splash down in its lagoon.

Due to the fairly large length of the island chains from north to south, the country's climate is quite diverse. Yes, on northern islands it is tropical, semi-arid, and on the northernmost island of Bocak it is almost semi-desert. However, as you move southward, the amount of precipitation increases and most often it rains on Ebon - the most south island country, which is located in the equatorial belt. At the same time, throughout almost the entire year, northeast winds blow on the islands, characterized by high humidity. Destructive typhoons and tropical storms are quite rare here and mostly occur between October and November or March and April.

Map of the Marshall Islands in Russian

Due to the high cost of flights to the Marshall Islands, tourism in this region of Oceania is not so developed. However, a trip here is a real treat for divers, as here they will have the opportunity to admire some of the most beautiful underwater landscapes on the planet.
The main attractions of this paradise- ancient “underwater gardens” near Mili Atoll, “underwater cemeteries” of military equipment that sank in the local waters during the Second World War and Laura Village - an ethnographic village where you can get acquainted with the way of life of the indigenous people of Micronesia, which over the past 300 years has not Laura Village also houses Majuro Peace Park, a memorial built by Japan in memory of those killed between 1941 and 1945. In general, there are many objects remaining on the islands that remind of the Japanese intervention. For example, in the jungle on Watje Atoll. see the ruins of giant fortifications built by the Japanese, and in the center of the village located there is a large collection of Japanese tanks and other military equipment produced in the early 1940s. Photo materials used from Wikimedia © Foto, Wikimedia Commons

Republic of the Marshall Islands
Aolepān Aorōkin M̧ajeļ(march) ((English) )
Motto: "Jepilpilin ke ejukaan ( Achievement through common effort , Marshallese)"
Hymn: "Forever Marshall Islands"
Independence date	October 21, 1986 (from )
official languages	Marshallese, English
Capital
Largest cities
Form of government
The president	Hilda Hein
Territory	213th in the world
Total	181 km²
Population
Score (2011)	53,158 people (212th)
Density	293.7 people/km²
GDP
Total (2001)	$115 million (220th)
Per capita	$1600
Currency	U.S. dollar (USD, code 840)
Internet domain	.mh
ISO code	M.H.
IOC code	MHL
Telephone code	+692
Time Zones	+12

Republic of the Marshall Islands(marsh. Aolepān Aorōkin M̧ajeļ, English. Republic of the Marshall Islands) is a Pacific state in , associated with . It borders in the west and southwest with territorial waters, in the south with territorial waters, and in the remaining parts with 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 land area - 181.3 km²; the territory occupied by lagoons is 11,673 km². The population of the Marshall Islands is 53,158 people. (2011, census). The capital is a city.

The first island noticed by Europeans was Bocak Atoll, discovered by the navigator Alonso de Salazar in 1526. Subsequently, the Marshall Islands alternately became the territory of different colonial powers: in 1886 - Germany, in 1914 - which continued to administer the islands after the First World War under the mandate of the League of Nations, in 1947 - included in the UN Trust Territory under the control of. As a state entity, the Marshall Islands came into existence 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 Marshall Islands is a member of the UN, the South Pacific Commission and the Pacific Islands Forum.

Name

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

Geography

General geography

See also List of Marshall Islands

Satellite image of the Marshall Islands. March 1999

The land area of ​​the Marshall Islands is only 181.3 km², while the area occupied by lagoons is 11,673 km². The country is located on 29 atolls and 5 remote islands, which are divided into two groups: 18 islands in the Ralik chain (translated from Marshallese "sunset") and 16 islands in the Ratak chain (or Radak; translated from Marshallese "sunrise"). Both chains are approximately 250 km apart and stretch from northwest to southeast for approximately 1200 km. The most important islands are the Kwajalein and . Largest island Republic of the Marshall Islands, Kwajalein, is also an atoll with the largest lagoon in the world. Although its land area is only 16.32 km² (or 6.3 sq. miles), its lagoon area is 2,174 km² (or 839.3 sq. miles). All the islands are low-lying and the atolls are made up of a large number of motus, the total number of which in the country exceeds 1,100. Highest point country, which reaches only 10 m, is located on an atoll.

The northernmost island of the Republic of the Marshall Islands is Bocak Island (or Taongi) in the Ratak chain: it is located 280 km northwest of the country's disputed Wake Atoll, now administered by the. The southernmost island of the Marshall Islands is Ebon Atoll, the westernmost is Ujelang (they are both located in the Ralik chain), and the easternmost is Knox in the Ratak chain.

Geology

Beach of one of the country's atolls.

Twenty nine out of thirty four islands The Republic of the Marshall Islands are atolls (the remaining islands are raised atolls). According to the theory of Charles Darwin, the formation of atolls occurred as a result of the submergence of volcanic islands, on the surface of which gradually grew. A fringing reef was formed, and subsequently a barrier reef, which was gradually built up by corals. As a result, the land of the atoll arose. Coral and algae growth was most active in areas of the reef facing the ocean, causing these outer edges of the reef to keep pace with the subsidence of the volcanic island. The interior areas of the island, on the contrary, sank under water. Subsequently, shallow lagoons formed in these places.

Sand gradually accumulated on the surface of the reefs, which was formed under the influence of waves and currents, especially during strong tides. In the tidal zone of the beach, coastal rock was formed, an outer inclined layer of stones. As a result, land plants had a support on which they could grow. On the island, vegetation resistant to high salt content in the soil was formed, which with its roots held together various sedimentary rocks and prevented water and wind erosion. This is how the sandy islands, or motu, of the atoll were formed.

An uplifted atoll is a raised volcanic island formed by the uplift of a coral platform, or makatea, that surrounds the volcanic plateau in the center of the island.

There are no mineral resources that could be mined on an industrial scale on the surface or in the depths of the Marshall Islands. However, during preliminary studies, phosphorites were found on some islands, and within the territorial waters of the country - accumulations of iron-manganese nodules, as well as cobalt. However, no development is currently underway.

Climate

Average annual temperature(red) and rainfall (blue) on Majuro Island

A distinctive feature of the regional climate of the Marshall Islands is the change in climatic conditions from north to south, including an increase in precipitation in this direction. The northern islands of the country have a tropical, semi-arid climate. For example, on the northernmost atoll of the Marshall Islands, Bokaka, it is almost semi-desert, although the amount of precipitation that falls on it is close to that of the western prairies. This is due to several factors: soil porosity, salt spray and salty groundwater. Rainfall in the Marshall Islands increases as you move south and reaches its maximum on Ebon Atoll, the southernmost island of the country, located in the equatorial belt.

Another important climatic feature The local climate is the location of the Marshall Islands in the zone of northeastern trade winds. During most of the year, the prevailing winds on the islands are from the northeast. They are characterized by high humidity. All but the northernmost islands experience frequent rainfall.

Typical, although rare, tropical storms and hurricanes or typhoons are common in the archipelago, bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds that snap trees and destroy houses, and high waves that threaten to wash away low-lying islands. Droughts occur. The cause of climate disasters is most often 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 heaviest rain occurs from September to November, while on the southern islands it falls all year round.

The temperature regime on the archipelago remains constant throughout the year. The difference between the coldest and warmest month is 1-2 °C. The lowest nighttime temperatures are usually 2-4°C higher than the lowest daytime temperatures. The average annual temperature in the Marshall Islands is 27.8 °C.

Soils and hydrology

The soils of the Marshall Islands are highly alkaline, of coral origin (mostly white or pink coral sand), and very poor. They are usually porous, which is why they retain moisture very poorly. Also, local soils contain very little organic and mineral substances with the exception of calcium.

The first island noticed by Europeans was Bocak Atoll, discovered by the navigator Alonso de Salazar in 1526. However, the archipelago remained nameless until 1788, when the islands were rediscovered by Captain John Marshall, after whom they were named. Subsequently, ships from many countries sailed past the Marshall Islands, but none of them presented territorial claims for the purpose of annexation. In the 1860s, the first immigrants from the islands began to appear on the islands. During these years, German trading companies developed a whole network for trading copra and other goods. In 1885, the archipelago was annexed by the German Empire, despite claims from outside. The administration on behalf of the empire was carried out by the Jaluit Company from Hamburg.

During the First World War, in September 1914, it occupied part of Germany, including the Marshall Islands. Since then, the islands remained under Japanese control until the archipelago was occupied by the Americans during World War II. Since 1920, the Marshall Islands have been administered by Japan under a League of Nations mandate.

Following the brief occupation of the islands by the US Army, the UN entrusted the administration of the Marshall Islands to the United States as the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Soon, a strategic US military base appeared on Kwajalein Atoll, from where tests were monitored nuclear weapons on the Bikini and Atolls, which were carried out from 1946 to 1958.

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 on the territory of the country; All military bases were also preserved. The defense of the country became the responsibility of the United States. In 1990, the independence of the Marshall Islands was recognized by the UN.

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

Administrative division

During the years of the Trust Territory, the Pacific Marshall Islands constituted one district.

Currently, the Marshall Islands is divided into 33 municipalities: Ailinginae, Ailinglapalap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur, Bikar, Bikini, Bokak, Voto, Jabat, Jaluit, Jemo, Kili, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Mejit, Mili, Namorik, Namu, Rongelap, Rongerik, Taka, Ujae, Ujelang, Utirik, Ebon, Enewetok, Erikub. The four district centres, Majuro, Ebeye, Jaluit and Wotier, have local governments with an elected council, mayor, appointed officials and local police.

№	Name of municipality	Code ISO 3166-2	Population, people (2011)	Square, km²	Density, people/km²
1	Ailinginae	-	-	2,80	-
2	Ailinglapalap	MH-ALL	1729	14,69	117,70
3		MH-ALK	339	5,36	63,25
4	Arno	MH-ARN	1794	12,95	138,53
5	Aur	MH-AUR	499	5,62	88,79
6	Bikar	-	-	0,49	-
7	Bikini	-	9	6,01	1,50
8	Bocak	-	-	3,24	-
9	Voto	MH-WTH	97	4,33	22,40
10		MH-WTJ	859	8,18	105,01
11		MH-JAB	84	0,57	147,37
12	Jaluit	MH-JAL	1788	11,34	157,67
13	Jemo	-	-	0,16	-
14		MH-KIL	548	0,93	589,25
15	Kwajalein	MH-KWA	11 408	16,39	696,03
16	Lae	MH-LAE	347	1,45	239,31
17	Lib	MH-LIB	155	0,93	166,67
18		MH-LIK	401	10,26	39,08
19		MH-MAJ	27 797	9,71	2862,72
20	Maloelap	MH-MAL	682	9,82	69,45
21		MH-MEJ	348	1,86	187,10
22	Miles	MH-MIL	738	15,93	46,33
23		MH-NMK	508	2,77	183,39
24	Namu	MH-NMU	780	6,27	124,40
25		MH-RON	79	7,95	9,94
26	Rongerik	-	-	1,68	-
27	Taka	-	-	0,57	-
28		MH-UJA	364	1,86	195,70
29	Ujelang	-	-	1,74	-
30		MH-UTI	435	2,43	179,01
31	Ebon	MH-EBO	706	5,75	122,78
32		MH-ENI	664	5,85	113,50
33	Ericub	-	-	1,53	-
	Marshall Islands	M.H.	53 158	181,42	293,01	Map

Population

Number and placement

Residential buildings and small children on Majuro Atoll.

Population of the Marshall Islands
Population growth dynamics of the Marshall Islands
Population structure
Population	53,158 (2011 census)
Population density	293.01 (2011 census)
Average age	total: 21 men: 21 women: 20.9 (2008 estimate)
Age structure	0-14: 40 % 15-59: 56 % over 60: 4% (2011 census)
Urban population share	73,8 % (2011)
Fertility
Total fertility rate	3.68‰ (2008)
Population growth rate	2,142 % (2008)
Mortality
Infant mortality per 1000 born	total: 26.36‰ (2008) boys: 29.58‰ (2008) girls: 22.98‰ (2008)
Total mortality per 1000 Human	total: 4.57‰ (2008)

The first official census of the Marshall Islands took place in 1920. At that time, 9,800 people lived on the islands. Until 1958, the rate of population growth was slow, but from 1958 to 1967, annual population growth reached 3.4%, and subsequently 4%. However, already in 1988-1989 this value fell to 1.5%, despite the fact that the birth rate remained very high. The downward trend in population growth was caused by increased emigration of the population abroad, primarily to. According to the 1999 census, annual population growth in the Islands remained unchanged at 1.5%, but according to a 2008 estimate, it rose to 2.1%.

According to the last census of 1999, the population of the Marshall Islands was 50,840 people, while over 25 thousand people lived in the capital of the state, the city.

In 1999, 30,925 people lived on the islands of the Ratak chain, and 19,915 people lived on the islands of the Ralik chain. The highest population density was on the atoll: 6314 people. per km². The lowest is on the Bikini and Atolls: 6 people. per km².

Majuro's main street is Main Road.

According to the latest census in 2011, the population of the Marshall Islands was 53,158 people.

The general trend in recent years has been the outflow of population from the outer islands to the only cities in the country, on Majuro Atoll and Ebeye on Kwajalein Atoll. So, in 1930, only 753 people lived in Majuro, and in 2011 there were already 27,797 people. (increase by 36.9 times); in Ebeye in 1930 - 19 people, in 2011 - 11,408 people. (an increase of 600.4 times) This creates an increased burden on the resources and lands of both islands, leads to coastal erosion, negatively affects local ecosystems, and contributes to the destruction of autochthonous flora and fauna. In the event of a significant rise in sea levels or global climate change, the concentration of population on individual islands can lead to serious social and economic consequences.

Against the background of urban population growth, on the outlying islands of the country, population growth in 2011 compared to 1999 was observed only on the islands of Jaluit, Lae, Lib, and amounted to less than 1%, and on other islands there was a decrease in population.

According to the 2011 census, men made up 51.2% (27,243 people), women - 48.8% (25,915 people). The share of the urban population according to the 2011 census is 73.8%, rural - 26.2%.

The share of children under 14 years of age in 2011 was 40%, of adults from 15 to 59 years of age - 56%, over 59 years of age - 4%. The average life expectancy for men in 1999 was 65.7 years, for women - 69.4 years.

Ethnic composition

The vast majority of the population of the Marshall Islands are Marshallese. They are a Micronesian people who are divided into two ethnographic groups: raylik And rahtak(in geography, in a slightly different pronunciation: Ralik and Ratak, these are the names of the two island chains of the country).

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

Languages

Besides in English, official language Marshall Islands is Marshallese, a Micronesian language. The total number of its speakers in 1979 was about 43,900 people.

The language uses the Latin alphabet, supplemented by diacritics. It consists of 22 consonants (plus one velar sound, which is not reflected in the spelling) and four vowel sounds, each of which has several allophones. Marshallese spelling is extremely unstable. In addition to having several accepted options spellings, the spelling in each of them is inconsistent.

Religious composition

The dominant religion in the Marshall Islands is Christianity, spread to the archipelago by missionaries in the 19th century. The first of these were Congregationalists from , who landed on Ebon Atoll in 1857. The first Catholic missionaries arrived in the Marshall Islands in 1899, subsequently building a church on Jaluit Atoll.

In 2008, the share 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%.

Political structure

Political system

The Marshall Islands is a self-governing state entity in free association with. The Constitution, adopted on May 1, 1979, establishes a form of government that combines features of the British and American political systems.

After gaining independence in 1983, the country held a referendum, the result of which was a policy to continue close ties with the United States. In November 1986, the Agreement on Free Association was signed, which was in force for 15 years. According to it, the Republic of the Marshall Islands could pursue an independent foreign policy, while the United States was responsible for the country's finances, which also retained the exclusive right to have US armed forces on Kwajalein Atoll. Compliance with the American nuclear testing program was guaranteed. In exchange for these concessions, the United States assumed the defense of the Islands, the Marshall Islands' access to US federal programs was guaranteed, and the Marshallese were given the right to live and work in the United States. At the same time, the United States allocated significant funds to the Islands: in 1987 - $48 million, in 2001-2002 - $34.7 million, thus, from 1987 to 2002, the state budget of the Marshall Islands consisted of 70% of funds received from the United States. The agreement expired in 2002. A new Compact of Free Association for a period of 20 years was signed on December 6, 2003. According to it, the United States pledged to continue financing the economy of the Marshall Islands (the amounts were previously agreed upon in the agreement).

Legislature

Marshall Islands Parliament Building.

The highest legislative body is parliament, consisting of two chambers: the Council of Chiefs (Marsh. Council of Iroij, upper house) and the Nitijela (Marsh. Nitijela, lower house).

Legislative power is vested in the lower house of parliament, consisting of 33 deputies. The term of office of the chamber is four years. Only a citizen of the Marshall Islands who has reached the age of 21 can become a candidate for deputy of the lower house of parliament. Deputies are elected on the basis of universal suffrage. The candidate with a simple majority is elected. At the first meeting after the elections, members of the lower house elect a speaker and his deputy from among themselves. The regular session of the House begins on the first Monday of January and lasts for 50 days. The President has the right to dissolve the lower house if the latter expresses a vote of no confidence twice (if both times a new president was not elected), as well as if it was not possible to form a Cabinet within 30 days after the presidential election.

Upper House, or Council of Chiefs, has advisory functions: it can discuss any matter affecting the Marshall Islands and express its opinion to the Cabinet of Ministers, as well as demand the revision of any law relating to customary law, traditional practices or land rights adopted by the lower house of parliament in the third reading. The Council of Chiefs consists of 12 representatives (Marsh. Iroijlaplap) from the districts of the Ralik and Ratak chains: the Ralik chain (without Ujelang) is represented by 4 people; Ujelang, Mili, Arno, Medjit, Majuro, Airok (Motu in Maloelap Atoll), Likiep - 1 person from each district; the islands of Aur, Maloelap (without motu Airok), Votje, Utirik and Ailuk have one representative. At the first meeting of the council, the chairman of the Council of Chiefs and his deputy are elected from among the representatives by secret ballot.

Executive branch

see also List of Presidents of the Marshall Islands

According to the Constitution of the Marshall Islands, the head of state is the president, who is elected from the members of the lower house of parliament by the deputies themselves at the first meeting after the general elections. The candidate who receives the majority of votes is elected. Since January 2016, Kasten Nemra has been the country's president.

The executive power of the Marshall Islands is in the hands of the Cabinet of Ministers, whose members are collectively responsible to the country's parliament. The Cabinet consists of the President of the Marshall Islands, who must also be a member of the country's lower house of parliament, and other members of the House appointed as their respective ministers. Candidates for ministers, of which there must be at least 6 (candidates for the post of ministers of finance, foreign affairs, communications and transport, resources and development, social security, public works) and no more than 10, are nominated by the president of the country from the lower house, and then presented to the speaker of the house, who already appoints them as ministers. If the president does not nominate at least 6 ministers within 7 days after his election, then the president is removed from office and new elections of the head of state are held.

The Cabinet exercises general direction and control over the state power of the country; presents to the lower house of parliament bills that are necessary or desirable for the implementation of the policies and decisions of the Cabinet, and also makes proposals for increasing duties or other sources of the state budget and expenditures of public money; The Cabinet is accountable to the lower house of parliament for all government expenditures; is responsible for the country's foreign policy (including treaties), signs international treaties with the approval of the lower house of parliament and appoints ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions of the Marshall Islands; bears responsibility for taking measures necessary to ensure the security of the country, subject to the prohibition of the deployment of armed forces on the territory of the country in Peaceful time; The Cabinet has the right to pardon; The Cabinet is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of hospitals and other facilities in the Marshall Islands health care system; for the creation and maintenance of public schools in the country's education system; for the creation and maintenance of other institutions necessary to maintain a high standard of living for the people of the Marshall Islands, protect their legal rights, and ensure the economic, social and cultural well-being of the Marshallese.

Judicial branch

The judicial branch of the Marshall Islands is independent of the legislative and executive branches. The country's judicial system includes Supreme Court, High Court, Traditional Rights Court, District Courts, Community Courts and other subordinate courts according to law. Each court of the Marshall Islands has the power to make decisions, establish rules, issue orders, procedural instructions that are not inconsistent with applicable law and are necessary for the administration of justice and in execution of the Constitution.

The Supreme Court of the Marshall Islands is the highest court of record established by the constitution and has appellate jurisdiction with final judgment in all cases decided by the lower courts. The Supreme Court consists of a presiding judge and other judges, the number of which is determined by current legislation.

The High Court of the Marshall Islands is the highest court of record established by the constitution and has general jurisdiction over questions of law and fact. The High Court consists of a presiding judge and other judges, the number of which is specified by current legislation. The court also considers appeals against decisions of lower courts and verifies the legality of decisions government agencies, unless otherwise specified by law.

Judges of the Supreme and High Courts are appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission, with subsequent approval of the lower house of Parliament. The age limit for a judge is 72 years.

Traditional court of law - a court of record established by the constitution and consisting of three or more judges who represent all classes of land law: the paramount chief (Marsh. Iroijlaplap), the lower chief (Marsh. Iroijedrik), the head of the communal/worker clans ( march. Alap), community workers/workers (marsh. Dri Jerbal). The jurisdiction of the Traditional Court of Law is to determine matters relating to the determination of Marshallese titles or land rights and legal interests which are determined in whole or in part by the customary law and traditional practices existing in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

The District Courts hear civil claims up to $10,000, excluding High Court, maritime and land claims. Community courts operate in the country's municipalities. They consider claims whose amounts do not exceed $200.

Electoral districts

Citizens of the Marshall Islands who have reached the age of 18 are entitled to vote. Persons who are recognized as mentally ill, who are in prison, and who are conditionally released from criminal punishment do not have the right to participate in elections. A voter can vote only in one electoral district where he lives or has land.

The country is divided into 24 electoral districts. Majuro district is represented in parliament by 5 deputies, Kwajalein - 3 deputies, Ailinglaplap, Arno, Jaluit - 2 deputies, Ailuk, Aur, Bikini-Kili, Voto, Wotje, Jabat, Lae, Lieb, Likiep, Maloelap, Medjit, Mili, Namorik, Namu, Rongelap, Ujae, Utirik, Ebon, Enewetak-Ujelang - 1 deputy. Other uninhabited islands are included in those constituencies with which they are most closely associated (by tradition, customs). The country's parliament can change both the number of deputies in the country's parliament and the boundaries of electoral districts. In this case, the districts should have approximately the same number of residents, although they can also take into account geographical features, community interests, boundaries of existing administrative and traditional areas, means of communication and population mobility.

Local government

Under the Constitution, the people of any atoll or island that is not part of an atoll (i.e. a motu) are entitled to a system of local government that operates in accordance with the laws of the Marshall Islands in force. At the same time, local self-government extends not only to the land of the atoll/island, but also to the sea and the seabed of the internal waters of the island (that is, the lagoon) and to the waters of the ocean washing the island and its bottom at a distance of 5 miles from the base line from which territorial waters are measured atoll or island.

Political parties

Traditionally, the Marshall Islands have not had any formally organized political parties. Those of them that are called them are more like factions or groups acting in the interests of certain circles. They have no headquarters, official ideology or party structures. The country's two recognized parties are the Kabua Party, or Aelon Kein Ad, (translated from Marshallese - "our islands") and the United Democratic Party. The country also has another party, the United People's Party, which, together with the Kabua Party, formed the government of the Marshall Islands in January 2008.

Armed forces and police

The Republic of the Marshall Islands has no permanent armed forces. However, according to the Compact of Free Association, responsibility for the security and defense of the country rests with the . They must protect the Republic of the Marshall Islands and its citizens from attacks and threats from outside, prevent access to and use of the Marshall Islands by military personnel or for military purposes by any third state, and establish and use military areas and installations in accordance with the terms of the Treaty. The United States can also conduct military actions and operations on land, water and in airspace Marshall Islands. Unless otherwise agreed, the United States shall not detonate or place on its territory nuclear or any other weapons of mass destruction, or radioactive, chemical or biological materials that could harm the health or safety of the people of the Marshall Islands.

Internal security is provided by national police formations. In 2004, 100 criminal cases were heard in the High Court (in 2000 - 160); Police in Majuro and Ebeye arrested 3,587 people.

Foreign policy and international relations

According to the Treaty of Free Association of the Republic of the Marshall Islands with the United States, the country has the right to conduct an independent foreign policy on its own behalf, except in cases specified in the Treaty. The Marshall Islands can conduct its own foreign policy in matters of maritime law and marine resources, build commercial, diplomatic, consular, economic, trading, banking, postal, communication, cultural, and cultural relations with other states. civil aviation, as well as negotiate with other states, international and intergovernmental organizations to obtain grants and loans for the development of the country. The Republic of the Marshall Islands may sign on its behalf international treaties and agreements with the governments of other countries and regional and international organizations.

The United States Government shall, by mutual agreement, support applications by the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands for membership or other participation in regional and international organizations. The Marshall Islands shall consult with the US Government regarding its foreign policy and the United States Government to consult with the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands on matters that may affect the Marshall Islands. The United States Government is not responsible for the foreign policy obligations of the Marshall Islands unless expressly agreed upon by both parties. At the request of the Government of the Marshall Islands, the United States must also provide consular assistance to citizens of the Marshall Islands.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands maintains diplomatic relations with 72 countries, including. However, only , and have their embassies in . The Republic of the Marshall Islands has an embassy in the United States, a consulate in the United States, and a mission in Taiwan and the United Nations. Diplomatic relations between Russia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands were established on August 6, 1992. However, there is no Russian embassy in the country.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands is a member of the UN (since September 17, 1991), the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Asian Development Bank, the international organization of the ACP countries and other international organizations.

The Marshall Islands dispute their rights to Wake Atoll, currently a territory of .

Economy

general characteristics

Economy of the Marshall Islands
Currency	1 US Dollar (USD) = 100 cents
Budget year	Calendar year
Trade Organizations	SPARTECA, UN Conference on Trade and Development
Statistics
Situation in the world (judging by PPP)	220th (2001)
GDP (PPP)	$115 million (2001, estimate)
GDP growth	3.5% (2005 estimate)
GDP per capita (PPP)	$2900 (2005, estimate)
Inflation	3% (2005 estimate)
Work force	14 680 (2000)
Unemployment	30.9% (2000 estimate)
Main sectors of the national economy	services sector, Agriculture
Trading partners
Export	$9.1 million (2000)
Main partners (ex.)	, Australia, China
Import	$54.7 million (2000)
Main partners (imp.)	, Australia, China,
State Finance
Budget revenues	$42 million (1999)
Budget expenses	$40 million (1999)

The characteristics that determine the economic situation in the Marshall Islands are no different from those of other countries in Oceania: a huge exclusive economic zone, limited natural resources, remoteness from the main world markets, and a shortage of highly qualified specialists. The economy of the Marshall Islands is also experiencing serious difficulties such as deficits in the government budget, balance of payments and low level domestic savings. The country is heavily dependent on funds provided by the Asian Development Bank and other countries around the world. Therefore, the size of the government budget of the Marshall Islands is largely determined by the amount of foreign financial assistance.

However, in last years the country has achieved relative economic stability, although weak sides local economy and the negative impact of external and other factors that may negate the achieved economic success. The most stable components of business activity in the Marshall Islands are the public sector and the financial and economic income from the US Reagan Proving Ground on Kwajalein Atoll, which is also a major employer (employing between 1,200 and 1,300 Marshallese). The private sector has also seen improvements in recent years, but it is not growing enough to address the country's rising unemployment. The public and private sectors remain particularly sensitive to fluctuations in the external market: for example, after terrorist attack September 11, 2001 in the USA and the bird flu epidemic in 2001-2004 on the islands there was a sharp decline in the number of tourists; The economy is also negatively affected by rising prices for fuel, which is entirely imported into the country.

According to the government of the Marshall Islands, in 2007 the country's GDP was about $149 million and its GDP per capita was $2,851. The Islands' national economic growth is very uneven. In 2007, GDP growth was 2%, in 2004 - 5.6%, while from 1996 to 1999 it was negative (in 1996 - -10.3%, in 1999 - -2.9% ).

The main sectors of the Marshall Islands economy are the services sector and agriculture. Tourism is one of the dynamically developing sectors of the country's economy.

A 2005 estimate put the country's inflation rate at 3%.

Thanks to low taxes, the state is a popular offshore zone.

Agriculture

Despite the fact that agricultural production in the Marshall Islands is small, agriculture plays an important role in the lives of the local population and is one of the key sectors of the country's economy. The amount of land suitable for cultivation is limited due to the small area of ​​the atolls and the low fertility of local soils.

Food crops are grown by households mainly for their own consumption. The most important of them are the coconut palm, breadfruit, pandanus, bananas, and taro. Other common crops include pineapples, cucumbers, watermelons, capsicums, cabbage, tomatoes, eggplants, pumpkins and red peppers. Meat production satisfies only the domestic market.

The country's most important agricultural product is copra, which is produced mainly on the outlying islands of the archipelago, for which the Marshall Islands government subsidizes the price of this product to support the welfare of local residents. The point of the subsidy is that the government company "Tobolar" buys copra from local producers at a price above the market price. In 2004 and 2005, these subsidies reached $900,000. In 2004, thanks to a grant from Taiwan, the Marshall Islands began producing soap and other products in addition to coconut oil.

Fishing

Against the backdrop of the country's growing population, the Government of the Marshall Islands has declared the development of the fishing sector of the economy one of its priorities.

Coastal fishing plays an important role in the lives of Marshallese. Of particular value, in addition to individual species fish, represent a variety of crustaceans, primarily crabs, which go to the domestic market. There are pearl farms on the atolls, and a station for growing giant tridacnids.

The country's main export is tuna, but it is caught primarily by foreign vessels that are licensed to fish in the Marshall Islands Exclusive Economic Zone. At the same time, licensing income largely depends on weather conditions For example, the country's waters typically see the highest abundance of tuna during El Niño. For example, due to changes in tuna migration patterns, fish catch volumes have fallen sharply in recent years. The closure of a tuna fillet plant in 2004 had a negative impact on the country's economy. It was profitable from the point of view that it provided jobs for 100 to 520 local residents, and was also a large taxpayer.

Transport

The car license plate used in 1985 in the Marshall Islands was a simple sticker.

In 2007, the Marshall Islands had 2,028 km of highways (including 75 km of expressways). There is no railway transport in the republic.

The national air carrier is Air Marshall Islands, which operates domestic flights. The company was founded in 1980 under the name " Airline of the Marshall Islands", since 1990 the modern name began to be used. Other airlines flying to the Marshall Islands include " Continental Airlines"(flights from and islands to islands and Kwajalein) and " Our Airline/Air Nauru» (flights from (Australia) and ()). In total, in 2007, there were 15 airports in the country, but only four of them had a hard surface runway.

Majuro Island has public transport (charter buses), but the most popular mode of transport is taxi. The fare ranges from 50 cents to $2 (between the most remote points of the island), and the driver has the right to pick up fellow travelers. Sea communication, both domestic and international, is carried out by the company "Central Pacific Maritime Agency". Largest port countries - .

Connection

The Marshall Islands press is represented by only two publications: newspaper Marshall Islands Gazette owned by the national government and published once a month; magazine Marshall Islands Journal is private and published weekly in English and Marshallese. There is one AM station and three FM stations on the islands: V7AB(owned by the government of the Marshall Islands), V7AA(religious radio station), "Micronesia Heatwave"(private). In some areas of the country you can catch the signal from the radio station and television channel of the American military located on Kwajalein Atoll. MBC TV is a state-owned channel.

Various types of telecommunications services are available on the islands: telex, telephony, Internet. There are regular telephone services on Majuro and Kwajalein atolls. Other islands can be contacted via satellite or radiotelephone. In 2004, there were 4,500 home telephones and 600 mobile telephones in use in the country. In 2006, 2,200 people used the Internet in the Marshall Islands.

Tourism

The tourism sector of the Marshall Islands economy remains in its infancy, as the number of tourist arrivals to the country remains quite low compared to other countries. The main flow of tourists goes to the island. In 2004, 9,007 people visited the island, in 2001 - 5,444 people, in 1999 - 6,116 people. The archipelago is mainly visited by citizens and. In 2003, the total number of vacationers from the United States decreased by 3%, while those from Japan increased by about 2.5%. The main types of recreation for foreigners: diving, sport fishing, cultural tourism, sailing on a yacht.

The development of tourism is negatively affected by several factors: the too high cost and duration of the flight to the Marshall Islands, undeveloped infrastructure.

Many citizens of the Marshall Islands suffer from cancer, thyroid disease and various tumors caused by radiation, which was caused by nuclear tests on the Bikini and Atolls.

Education

The Marshall Islands education system faces many challenges, primarily driven by the need to improve teaching at all grade levels.

The country's educational system consists of four main levels:

• preschool education for children from three to five years old through state program centers "Head Start Program"(49 centers in total) and schools with kindergarten programs (3 public and 13 private);
• compulsory primary education for children aged six to fourteen through a system of public and private schools (100 schools in total);
• secondary education for children from fifteen to eighteen years old through a system of public and private schools (17 schools in total);
• secondary vocational education through the College of the Marshall Islands and educational program USP-CMI.

The city of Majuro also has a campus of the University of the South Pacific, built in 1993.

Between 1988 and 1999, enrollment in the Marshall Islands increased significantly: primary schools ah - from 11,581 to 12,421 people, in secondary schools - from 1,910 to 2,667 people. However, in subsequent years, the number of students in primary schools decreased, which is mainly due to the outflow of the population to other countries (primarily): in the 2004/2005 school year, there were 10,281 people studying in primary schools. The share of students out of the total number of children who have reached the required age to attend school remains quite low (this figure increased slightly: from 81.9 to 84.1% for primary schools and from 46.7 to 69.5% in secondary schools).

Notes

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4. Population Census (Statoids - 2011)
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37. Population (2011 census)
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42. Marshall Islands 2004. - Page 7 (English). Transparency International Country Study Report (2004). Retrieved August 11, 2011. Archived August 11, 2011.
43. Marshall Islands 2004. - Page 8 (English). Transparency International Country Study Report (2004). Retrieved June 1, 2008. Archived August 11, 2011.
44. Constitution of the Marshall Islands, Article 4, paragraph 1, clause 1.
45. K., Art. 4, § 2, paragraph 1.
46. K., Art. 4, § 12, paragraph 1.
47. K., Art. 4, § 4, paragraph 1.
48. K., Art. 4, § 3, paragraph 1.
49. K., Art. 4, § 2, paragraph 2.
50. K., Art. 4, § 7, paragraph 1, 2.
51. K., Art. 4, § 10, paragraph 1.
52. K., Art. 4, § 12, paragraph 1, 2.
53. Brief Overview of Political Development in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. (English) . The Nitijela (Parliament). Retrieved August 11, 2011. Archived August 11, 2011.
54. K., Art. 3, § 2.
55. K., Art. 3, § 1, paragraph 2.
56. K., Art. 3, § 5, paragraph 1, 2.
57. K., Art. 5, § 3, paragraph 1.
58. K., Art. 5, § 3, paragraph 3.
59. K., Art. 5, § 3, paragraph 2.
60. K., Art. 5, § 5, paragraph 1.
61. K., Art. 5, § 2.
62. K., Art. 5, § 4, paragraph 1, 2.
63. K., Art. 5, § 4, paragraph 4.
64. K., Art. 5, § 1, paragraph 3.
65. K., Art. 6, § 1, paragraph 1.
66. K., Art. 6, § 1, paragraph 2.
67. K., Art. 6, § 2, paragraph 1.
68. K., Art. 6, § 3, paragraph 1.
69. K., Art. 6, § 1, paragraph 4.
70. K., Art. 6, § 4, paragraph 1.
71. K., Art. 6, § 4, paragraph 3.
72. Marshall Islands Courts System Information. University of the South Pacific. Retrieved August 11, 2011. Archived August 11, 2011.
73. K., Art. 4, § 3, paragraph 2 a, b.
74. K., Art. 4, § 3, paragraph 3.
75. K., Art. 4, § 2, paragraph 4.
76. K., Art. 9, § 1, paragraph 1.
77. K., Art. 9, § 1, paragraph 2.
78. Transparency International Country Study Report. Marshall Islands 2004. - Page 13. (English) (2004). Retrieved June 1, 2008. Archived August 11, 2011.
79. Encyclopedia of the Nations. Marshall Islands. Political Parties. (English) . Retrieved June 21, 2008.
80. Office of the President, Republic of the Marshall Islands. The United People's Party and Aelon Kein Ad formed Government). (English) (January 10, 2008). Retrieved June 21, 2008. Archived August 11, 2011.
81. DSA (abbr. DSA). h. 3, Art. 1, r. 311a.
82. DSA (abbr. DSA). h. 3, art. 1, r. 312.
83. DSA (abbr. DSA). h. 3, art. 1, r. 311b.
84. DSA (abbr. DSA). h. 3, art. 1, r. 314a.
85. Criminal Offenses. Number of criminal cases listed at rmi high court: 2000 to 2004 (English). RMI Economic Policy, Planning and Statistics Office. Retrieved August 11, 2011. Archived August 11, 2011.
86. Arrests. Number of arrests by national and local government police (ebeye & majuro) by gender and age: 2002 to 2004. (English) . RMI Economic Policy, Planning and Statistics Office. Retrieved August 11, 2011. Archived August 11, 2011.
87. DSA, z. 1, art. 2, r. 121a.
88. DSA, z. 1, art. 2, r. 121b.
89. DSA, z. 1, art. 2, r. 121c.
90. DSA, z. 1, art. 2, r. 122.
91. DSA, z. 1, art. 2, r. 123a.
92. DSA, z. 1, art. 2, r. 123b.
93. DSA, z. 1, art. 2, r. 125.
94. DSA, z. 1, art. 2, r. 126.
95. Countries with which the Marshall Islands has Diplomatic Relations (English). U.S. Department of the Interior. Office of Insular Affairs. Retrieved August 11, 2011. Archived August 11, 2011.
96. Embassies in Marshall Islands (English). GoAbroad.com. Retrieved August 11, 2011. Archived August 11, 2011.
97. Republic of the Marshall Islands (English). New Zealand Ministry Of Foreign Affiliates And Trade. Retrieved August 11, 2011. Archived August 11, 2011.
98. Government (English) . Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands in USA, Washington D.C.. Retrieved August 11, 2011. Archived August 11, 2011.
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103. National Accounts. RMI gross domestic product estimates (GDP), USD"000 (English). RMI Economic Policy, Planning and Statistics Office. Retrieved August 11, 2011. Archived August 11, 2011.
104. National Accounts. Current and constant price GDP, GDP per capita and growth rates 1981-2007 (English). RMI Economic Policy, Planning and Statistics Office. Retrieved August 11, 2011. Archived August 11, 2011.
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122. Marshall Islands National Olympic Committee (MINOC) 2007 Annual Report to ONOC. (English) . Marshall Islands National Olympic Committee. Retrieved August 11, 2011. Archived August 11, 2011.
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Links

Links in English

• Website of the President of the Marshall Islands
• Embassy of the Marshall Islands in the USA. Official site
• Official website of Statistics Marshall Islands
• Marshall Islands Journal - weekly free magazine
• Constitution of the Marshall Islands
• Text of the Treaty of Free Association of the Republic of the Marshall Islands with the United States of 1986
• Text of the Treaty of Free Association of the Republic of the Marshall Islands with the United States of 2003
• Website dedicated to the Compact of Free Association
• Marshall Islands Ministry of Tourism. Guide to Majuro
• Marshall Cultural Center
• Traditional Marshallese crafts.
• Phillip H. McArthur. Narrative, Cosmos, and Nation: Intertextuality and Power in the Marshall Islands
• World Culture Encyclopedia. Marshall Islands
• Digital Micronesia - An Electronic Library & Archive. Marshall Islands.

Links in Russian

• Information about the Marshall Islands in the Around the World encyclopedia
• Information about the Marshall Islands on Travel.ru
• Dmitry Malov's blog about the Marshall Islands

Geography

The Micronesian nation of the Marshall Islands is a cluster of atolls and islands located in the Pacific Ocean just north of the equator. The capital of the country, the city of Majuro, is located 3438 km west of the city of Honolulu, the administrative center of the American state of Hawaii, 3701 km southeast of Tokyo, the capital of Japan, and 3241 km southeast of the city of Saipan, the capital of the Northern Marianas islands. The closest archipelagos are the Caroline Islands, which belong to the Federated States of Micronesia and are located southwest of the Marshall Islands, and the Gilbert Islands, which lie to the southeast and belong to the Republic of Kiribati.

The land area of ​​the Marshall Islands is only 181 km², while the area occupied by lagoons is 11,673 km². The country is located on 29 atolls and 5 outlying islands, which are divided into two groups: 18 islands in the Ralik chain (translated from Marshallese as “sunset”) and 16 islands in the Ratak chain (or Radak; translated from Marshallese as “sunrise”). . Both chains are approximately 250 km apart and stretch from northwest to southeast for approximately 1200 km. The most important islands are the Kwajalein and Majuro atolls. The largest island of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Kwajalein is also the atoll with the largest lagoon in the world. Although its land area is only 16.32 km² (or 6.3 sq. miles), its lagoon area is 2,174 km² (or 839.3 sq. miles). All the islands are low-lying and the atolls consist of a large number of motu, the total number of which in the country exceeds 1100. The highest point of the country, which reaches only 10 m, is located on the Likiep Atoll.

The northernmost island of the Republic of the Marshall Islands is Bocak (or Taongi) Island in the Ratak chain: it is located 280 km northwest of the country's disputed Wake Atoll, now under US administration. The southernmost island of the Marshall Islands is Ebon Atoll, the westernmost is Ujelang (they are both located in the Ralik chain), and the easternmost is Knox in the Ratak chain.

Twenty-nine of the thirty-four islands of the Republic of the Marshall Islands are atolls (the remaining islands are raised atolls). According to Charles Darwin's theory, the formation of atolls occurred as a result of the submergence of volcanic islands, on the surface of which corals gradually grew. A fringing reef was formed, and subsequently a barrier reef, which was gradually built up by corals. As a result, the land of the atoll arose. Coral and algae growth was most active in areas of the reef facing the ocean, causing these outer edges of the reef to keep pace with the subsidence of the volcanic island. The interior areas of the island, on the contrary, sank under water. Subsequently, shallow lagoons formed in these places.

Sand gradually accumulated on the surface of the reefs, which was formed under the influence of waves and currents, especially during strong tides. In the tidal zone of the beach, coastal rock was formed, an outer inclined layer of stones. As a result, land plants had a support on which they could grow. On the island, vegetation resistant to high salt content in the soil was formed, which with its roots held together various sedimentary rocks and prevented water and wind erosion. This is how the sandy islands, or motu, of the atoll were formed.

An uplifted atoll is a raised volcanic island formed by the uplift of a coral platform, or makatea, that surrounds the volcanic plateau in the center of the island.

There are no mineral resources that could be mined on an industrial scale on the surface or in the depths of the Marshall Islands. However, during preliminary studies, phosphorites were found on some islands, and within the territorial waters of the country - accumulations of iron-manganese nodules, as well as cobalt. However, no development is currently underway.

Climate

A distinctive feature of the regional climate of the Marshall Islands is the change in climatic conditions from north to south, including an increase in precipitation in this direction. The northern islands of the country have a tropical, semi-arid climate. For example, on the northernmost atoll of the Marshall Islands, Bokaka, it is almost semi-desert, although the amount of precipitation that falls on it is close to that of the western prairies of the United States. This is due to several factors: soil porosity, salt spray and salty groundwater. Rainfall in the Marshall Islands increases as you move south and reaches its maximum on Ebon Atoll, the southernmost island of the country, located in the equatorial belt.

Another important climatic feature of the local climate is the location of the Marshall Islands in the northeast trade winds. During most of the year, the prevailing winds on the islands are from the northeast. They are characterized by high moisture saturation. All but the northernmost islands experience frequent rainfall.

Typical, although rare, tropical storms and hurricanes or typhoons are common in the archipelago, bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds that snap trees and destroy houses, and high waves that threaten to wash away low-lying islands. Droughts occur. The cause of climate disasters is most often the El Niño current.

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 heaviest rain occurs from September to November, while on the southern islands it falls all year round.

The temperature regime on the archipelago remains constant throughout the year. 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 in the Marshall Islands is 27.8°C.

Nature

The soils of the Marshall Islands are highly alkaline, of coral origin (mostly white or pink coral sand), and very poor. They are usually porous, which is why they retain moisture very poorly. Also, local soils contain very little organic and mineral substances with the exception of calcium.

Permanent bodies of fresh water are a rarity in the Marshall Islands. There is no running water on the islands; small streams of water form only after heavy rains. Groundwater is found on almost all atolls except the northernmost ones, where the climate is the driest. As rainwater seeps through porous soil, it forms a lens of slightly brackish water. You can get to it by digging a well. Due to the small amount of water entering these lenses and prolonged tidal fluctuations, the lenses are relatively thin, as is the mixing zone of fresh and sea water. On some atolls of the country, where the climate is the most humid, there are small, mostly brackish, ponds that were formed as a result of the isolation of a separate section of the lagoon and the constant mixing of lagoonal salt water with fresh rainwater. One of the freshwater ponds exists on the island of Lib in the Ralik chain.

Only on a few uninhabited islands The archipelago has preserved forests in which vegetation typical of atolls grows. On the rest, the island ecosystem has undergone significant changes under the influence of anthropogenic factors: most of the local flora was destroyed, and instead of indigenous plants, coconut palm plantations and breadfruit. Other atolls suffered from military action: from 1946 to the 1960s, Americans tested nuclear weapons on Bikini and Eniwetok. In 1954, the United States tested its first hydrogen bomb, codenamed Bravo, at Bikini Atoll. The explosion was 1000 times more powerful than the explosion in Hiroshima, and radioactive fallout from it fell on neighboring islands. Nuclear testing caused enormous damage to the islands' ecosystem.

In recent years, local flora and fauna have been threatened by rising sea levels caused by global warming. It leads to groundwater pollution and the retreat of land in front of the ocean.

The Marshall Islands are home to 80 plant species, of which one species is endemic to the archipelago and two are endemic to Micronesia. The most common species is the coconut palm, which covers approximately 60% of the archipelago's landmass. This plant plays a key role in the life of the islanders: it is, on the one hand, a source of wood, and on the other hand, it forms the basis of the Marshallese diet. The oily endosperm of the nut is used to produce copra, which is the country's main export. Other important plants for local residents include pandanus, breadfruit, taro and bananas. Pisonias and Tournefortias mainly grow in the island forests. There are mangroves.

The most important representatives of the local fauna are turtles and seabirds. On many northern islands, Bikar, Bokak, Bikini, green turtles (Chelonia mydas) lay eggs, but the previously widespread hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) has become rare in local waters. Many of the Marshall Islands are large bird colonies where seabirds nest (106 bird species in total). The country's only land birds are the Pacific frugivorous dove (Ducula oceanica) and the purple-capped pied dove (Ptilinopus porphyraceus), now extinct on most of the islands. Skinks and geckos are found everywhere. All nine mammal species are introduced to the Marshall Islands.

The coastal waters of the islands are very rich in fish (about 250 species) and corals (about 146 species).

There are no reserves or protected areas in the country.

Story

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

The first island noticed by Europeans was Bocak Atoll, discovered by the Spanish navigator Alonso de Salazar in 1526. However, the archipelago remained nameless until 1788, when the islands were rediscovered by British captain John Marshall, after whom they were named. Subsequently, ships from 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 for trading copra and other goods. In 1885, the archipelago was annexed by the German Empire, despite verbal 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 Japanese control until the archipelago was occupied by the Americans during World War II. Since 1920, the Marshall Islands have been administered by Japan under a League of Nations mandate.

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 the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Soon, a strategic US military base appeared on Kwajalein Atoll, from where nuclear weapons tests on the islands of Bikini and Eniwetok, which were carried out from 1946 to 1958, were monitored.

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 on the territory of the country; All military bases were also preserved. The defense of the country has become the responsibility of the United States. In 1990, the independence of the Marshall Islands was recognized by the UN.

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

Economy

The characteristics that determine the economic situation in the Marshall Islands are no different from those of other countries in Oceania: a huge exclusive economic zone, limited natural resources, remoteness from the main world markets, and a shortage of highly qualified specialists. The Marshall Islands economy is also experiencing serious difficulties such as government budget deficits, balance of payments deficits and low levels of domestic savings. The country is heavily dependent on funds allocated by the Asian Development Bank, the United States and other countries around the world. Therefore, the size of the government budget of the Marshall Islands is largely determined by the amount of foreign financial assistance.

Nevertheless, in recent years, the country has achieved relative economic stability, although the weaknesses of the local economy and the negative influence of external and other factors that may negate the achieved economic successes remain. The most stable components of business activity in the Marshall Islands are the public sector and the financial and economic income from the US Reagan Proving Ground on Kwajalein Atoll, which is also a major employer (employing between 1,200 and 1,300 Marshallese). The private sector has also seen improvements in recent years, but it is not growing enough to address the country's rising unemployment. The public and private sectors remain particularly sensitive to fluctuations in the external market: for example, after the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 in the United States and the bird flu epidemic in Asia in 2001-2004, the islands experienced a sharp decline in the number of tourists; The economy is also negatively affected by rising prices for fuel, which is entirely imported into the country.

According to the government of the Marshall Islands, in 2007 the country's GDP was about $149 million, and its GDP per capita was $2,851. The Islands' national economic growth is very uneven. In 2007, GDP growth was 2%, in 2004 - 5.6%, while from 1996 to 1999 it was negative (in 1996 - -10.3%, in 1999 - -2.9% ).

The main sectors of the Marshall Islands economy are the services sector and agriculture. Tourism is one of the dynamically developing sectors of the country's economy.

According to a 2005 estimate, the country's inflation rate was 3%.

Thanks to low taxes, the state is a popular offshore zone.

Culture

Even before Europeans arrived in the Marshall Islands, the local population was divided into separate groups, whose members had certain rights and responsibilities. At the heart of the social organization of Marshallese society was the issue of land ownership. Each settlement consisted of several matrilineal clans (or march. jowi). The main form of social organization was the clan (or march. bwij), which was a group of people tracing their origins to a common ancestor and built on the basis of a matrilineal system in which all land rights were transmitted through the maternal line. The head of the clan (or march. alab), usually the oldest male of the main line of the clan, controlled the land holdings belonging to the clan. The landholding (or march. wāto) was a small strip of land stretching from the lagoon to the ocean coast. One or more landholdings were under the control of the matrilineal line. Local chiefs (or march. irooj) had the right to the entire atoll or part of it (motu). The heads of the clans organized and managed the activities of people, allocated land for use to clans within the same clan, and also organized and monitored the work of community members who provided local leaders with food and presented them with various gifts (or march. ekkan). The community members had land rights, but they were constantly redistributed by the head of the clan. Only the local chief had permanent land rights, but only until he was defeated by another chief.

The significant distance between the islands of the country and fish as one of the main foodstuffs of the population determined the skill of the people of the country in fishing, including the construction of canoes (or march. wa), which are capable of covering considerable distances. The Marshallese themselves are excellent navigators, who over many centuries have learned to travel, guided by the stars, clouds, currents, birds and even the color of the ocean.

Traditional canoes were carved from breadfruit wood using coconut wicker. The sails were embroidered by women from pandanus leaves. There were three types of outrigger canoes: karkar (marsh. kōrkōr, used for swimming or fishing in the atoll lagoon; could accommodate up to three people), tipnol (marsh. tipnol, used for swimming in the ocean or lagoon; could accommodate up to ten people ) and walap (marsh. walap, used for long-distance sailing; could accommodate up to fifty people).

To teach navigation, the islanders used special maps, which were made only by men from the root of a pandanus tree or the veins of a coconut palm leaf. They depicted the direction of currents and waves, and islands were designated with cowrie shells. There were three types of such maps: rebbelib (marsh. rebbelib), which showed all the Marshall Islands or one of the two island chains; medo (marsh. medo) with the image of individual islands; mattang march. mattang or wappepe (marsh. wappepe) - a small square-shaped map that showed the direction of the waves around separate island. Despite the fact that maps helped navigate the open ocean, the Marshallese themselves never took them on a voyage, relying on their own memory.

The weaving of various mats, traditional clothing and bags from pandanus leaves, coconut palms and hibiscus has reached a high level in the Marshall Islands. Woven mats have a wide range of uses: talao (marsh. tōlao) is used for sitting and is made from whole pandanus leaves that are sewn together; jepko (marsh. jepko) is used as a carpet or placed under a mat for sleeping; janini (marsh. janini) is used for sleeping, and jab (marsh. jab) is used as a room decoration. Wall decorations are also common in Marshallese homes. round shape, or obon (marsh. obon). On the island of Kili, people from the Bikini Atoll weave beautiful women's bags and wallets, and Likiep is known for its fans.

 

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