Micronesia
Marshall Islands

These beautiful islands are a collection of 1,225 islands and islets of which only five are single islands. The rest are grouped into 29 coral atolls which together make up more than one-tenth of all the atolls in the world. They resemble strings of pearls in a blue ocean backdrop, which is why they are referred to as the 'Pearl of The Pacific'.

They lie in two parallel chains known as Sunrise and Sunset (Ratak and Ralik) and in true atoll form, they are narrow and low and encircle large central lagoons. All the islands have glorious white sandy beaches, tall palms and are lapped by crystal clear waters. Of the 29 atolls, 27 are accessible by small plane (Air Marshall Islands).

Majuro and Kwajalein Atolls, the two population centres are serviced by both Air Marshall Islands and Continental Air Micronesia jet aircraft. There are also regular flights to Guam, Hawaii and Fiji.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands was first settled in about 1,000 BC by people of Mayo/Polynesian stock. It was visited by Spanish navigators in the 16th century seeking a westerly route to the Spice Islands. In 1788 British sea captain John William Marshall, sailed through these atolls and proclaimed them Marshall Islands, while en route from Australia to China.

In the 1800s German traders, missionaries from Hawaii, and British and American whalers visited the islands.

Japan governed the islands from WW1 to WW2. Following World War 2, the United States served as an administrator under United Nations Trust Territory created for all Micronesia. The Republic of the Marshall Islands came into being and declared its independence in 1979.

Marshallese is the official language, but English is taught in the schools and is widely spoken. The people are softly-spoken and good natured with a rich oral tradition of chants, songs and legends. The chiefs continue to wield a great deal of authority over land ownership and usage.

Copra (dried coconuts) and a fisheries industry are the foundation of the island's economy. However, the government which is a unique blend of the American and British system of government, has given strong support for tourism development and is seeking other economic bases.

Majuro

Majuro atoll, capital of the Marshall Islands, is the most developed atoll with a thriving commercial and political centre and a population of nearly 30,000.

It offers visitors diving and fishing, a cultural museum, a variety of cuisine, entertaining nightlife and is the perfect 'home base' while visiting the outer islands. Day trips can be taken to neighbouring Arno Atoll for diving or fishing.

Kwajalein (Ebeye)

Ebeye is the Marshallese population centre on Kwajalein Atoll, the largest atoll in the world. A US military base occupies the largest island in the atoll and its airport accommodates both military and commercial air traffic.

Ebeye has a population of 11,000 and provides access to some of the world's best wreck diving. Kwajalein Lagoon has numerous WW2 and earlier wrecks including the famous 'Prinz Eugen', the escort ship to Germany's 'Bismarck'. Fishing, too, is excellent here.

Tourism to the Marshall Islands

There's pristine diving and lush tropical greenery, and the Marshallese people retain many of their precolonial crafts and traditions, especially on the outer islands. You can still watch outrigger canoes zipping around the lagoons, though these days you're as likely as not to find a VCR in that little grass shack and Coke replacing coconut milk as many islanders' drink of choice.

Comfortable tourist accommodation can be found in Majuro and Ebeye, with traditional thatched huts available in a few of the outer atolls such as Mili.

The Marshall's climate is tropical with the average temperature 27°C and there is less than a 12 degree daily variation. High temperatures are cooled by trade winds and frequent rainfalls.

Primary leisure activities include world-class scuba diving on wrecks, walls and reefs, snorkelling and sport-fishing for tuna, marlin, sailfish and more.

Visitors also enjoy shopping for local handicrafts with an array of beautiful baskets, jewellery and decorations. The islanders are known for their weaving using pandanus leaves.

Activities
The Marshall Islands sit amid some of the world's most spectacular underwater scenery, and the traveler who never looks below the water's surface is missing out on some incredible sights. The water temperature is pretty warm year-round, so wetsuits aren't a necessity (some people wear them for coral-scrape protection, but they shouldn't swim that close to the coral anyway).

For natural attractions, Mili Atoll's waters boast some of the most pristine diving conditions in the country. Another popular site is Calalin Channel, which for all the right reasons has been dubbed 'Shark Alley.' Bikini and Jaluit atolls have some of the best WWII-era wreck diving found anywhere, with scores of warplanes, submarines and battleships to explore. Other good wreck dives are found near Kwajalein. Aur and Ailinglaplap atolls have excellent snorkeling, with a wide variety of tropical fish and corals, plus the odd sea turtle and shark.

Virtually all of the Marshalls have beautiful white-sand beaches, perfect for lounging in the sun even where the waters aren't the safest nor the most sanitary. Some of the best swimming spots are found at Ailinglaplap, Mili Island and Laura Beach at Majuro.

The islands' prime sportfishing catches include marlin, sailfish, yellowfin tuna, skipjack tuna, mahi-mahi and wahoo. Arno Atoll is famous for its abundant catches, as is Mejit, which also has octopus and lobster.

Birdwatchers will want to visit Bikar and Taongi (Bokaak) atolls, as they've both been tagged as potential national preservation areas. The latter was cited as being 'possibly the only example of a completely natural, unaltered, semiarid atoll ecosystem remaining in the world today.' Bikar has an especially large population of green sea turtles.

While in Majuro, you can also play tennis or go bowling, should the mood strike.

Country Profile
  • Full country name: Republic of the Marshall Islands
  • Population: 60,000
  • Capital city: Majuro (pop 30,000)
  • People: Micronesian
  • Languages: English (official), Malayo-Polynesian family, Japanese
  • Religion: Christian (predominantly Protestant)
  • Government: Constitutional government in free association with the US
  • Location: Oceania, group of atolls and reefs in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Papua New Guinea
  • Area: total area: 181.3 kmē land area: 181.3 kmē comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC Note: includes the atolls of Bikini, Eniwetak, and Kwajalein
  • Land boundries: 0 km
  • Coastline: 370.4 km
  • Maritime Claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
  • International disputes: claims US territory of Wake Island
  • Climate: wet season May to November; hot and humid; islands border typhoon belt
  • Terrain: low coral limestone and sand islands
  • Natural resources: phosphate deposits, marine products, deep seabed minerals
  • Irrigated land: NA kmē
  • Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 60% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 40%
  • Environment: current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water natural hazards: occasional typhoons international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

Note: two archipelagic island chains of 30 atolls and 1,152 islands; Bikini and Eniwetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein, the famous World War II battleground, is now used as a US missile test range

For more general information on the Marshall Islands, go to:

For more regional information on the Marshall Islands, go to:

For more product information on the Marshall Islands, go to: