The region known as Micronesia covers an area of approximately
2.4 million square miles of the Northern and Central Pacific Ocean,
between the Equator and the Tropic of Cancer from Palau
(sometimes known as Belau) and Guam in the west, to the
Marshall islands in the East. There are 6 Island nations
states within the area, the independent States of Belau
(Palau) and the Marshall Islands, and the four States of Yap,
Chuuk, Koreas and Phonpei which collectively make up the Federated
States of Micronesia. Guam is also in this
area but it is an American territory.
Early explorers and traders from Europe passed through
in the 18th century, but the most prominent visitors were the
Spanish in the 19th century, who discovered the islands during
their voyages between their colonies in South America and the
Philippines. After Spains defeat in the Spanish-American War in the
late 1890's, the Spanish sold Palau and other islands to Germany,
who controlled the island for only 15
years. From 1914 and up to the end of the Second
World War, the Japanese were a major influence on the region
occupying many of the islands, and many japanese workers were
brought in to colonise and develope the islands. At the end
of hostilities, the US liberated the islands and the Japanese
workers and their families were all repatriated to Japan, so
returning the islands to their original native inhabitancy.
Today the island states still have a very close relationship
with the USA, and all the states use the US Dollar as
their currency. As a consequence of the American influence,
we feel that the Micronesians are less visibly in touch with their
cultural history than their Melanesian and Polynesian cousins.
The Micronesian island's geography are all very similar, with
one main island on which most of the population live, and many
other smaller outer islands, most of which are uninhabited and
those that are, are often not easily accessible to overseas
visitors. The scenery ranges from white sandy beaches and
coves, teeming with marine life, to lush, dense jungles, with an
abundance of plant and wildlife.
Regrettably, the main town areas are not so attractive, as
they tend to have been developed around the islands seaport.
There has not been much attention paid to building design or
quality, with a high usage of concrete and corrugated roofing,
though things have improved in recent years, with newer buildings
having a more american influence. There has also been little
or no attention paid to controlling building development to ensure
that it complements the islands natural beauty. Sadly as a
result of this, there is almost no sign of any historic buildings
left.
Until recently, the island's tourism industries have not
been of a high priority, though this is gradually changing as
respective Governments try to move away from accepting foreign
aid. The little tourist facalities that there are is based
around scuba diving, as in addition to the oceans many natural
offerings, there are a great number of sunken war wrecks to be
seen. This is especially evident in Truk lagoon, in the state
of Chuuk, where during an attack on the 16th and 17th of February
1944, American naval aircraft sent 42 Japanese ships to the bottom
of the lagoon, where they have become home to an abundance of
beautiful corals and colourful exotic fish.
Currently, there are no locally based cruise companies offering
cruse itineraries around the Micronesian Islands. There are a
few major cruise companies operating the large luxury liners,
who offer itineraries across and around the Pacific that will
visit some of these islands, but they are not frequent or on a
regular basis.
There are live-aboard dive boats, that provide a cruise base for
scuba divers, however, they are not for clients who may just
want to cruise and not dive.