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CIA World Factbook Page on Jarvis Island - This strategically located atoll group is in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of the way from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands. It's closed to the public and has been used for testing nuclear weapons. About 300 people work there on military and other projects. All food and other equipment has to be imported, but they do have excellent communications through an underwater cable link and satellites. Maybe they will get a home page on their own server soon!
CIA World Factbook Page on Midway Islands - This is an atoll group in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of the way from Hawaii to Tokyo, Japan. Over 400 U.S. military personnel are stationed there, and the area has recently beend to the public. This is a famous World War II battle site, with many sunken wrecks in the area.
CIA World Factbook--Norfolk Island - This tiny volcanic island is only 34 square kilometers and is inhabited by descendants of mutineers of the famous ship Bounty . Tourism plays a major role in Norfolk's economy. The important facts about this tiny island in the Pacific, along with a map of the country, are here at this site.
CIA World Factbook--Tuvalu - Tuvalu, a stamp-sized nation of just 8,000 people living on nine tiny atolls, coincidentally lists postage stamps as its main source of international trade. Formerly known as the Ellice Islands, it is located in the western Pacific Ocean, north of Fiji.
Escape Artist - Tonga & Tokelau - Tokelau is a territory of New Zealand. It's an island group that's approximately six square miles in total area. It has no airports, no railroads, and no port. However, here is a page containing a few links to information about the island.
Fact Sheet 103 - The Cocos (Keeling) Islands - This Australian tropical paradise is in the Indian Ocean. Residents voted to become part of Australia's Northern Territory in 1984. Cocos Islands (sometimes called the Keeling Islands) are two atoll groups containing 27 islands. This page has some brief facts about the islands.
Islands of the Pacific - Here's a collection of pages dedicated to over two dozen islands around the Pacific. Each island page contains links to various sites specific to that island and most links have a brief note on the purpose or content of the site. Check the bottom of the main page for a Newspapers, News, and Media section and a Flags of the Pacific Islands page.
Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge - If you read the most interesting history of this remote island, you'll know why it has been in the possession of the U.S. Navy for many years. However, on April 3, 1997, Secretary of the Navy John Dalton presented the "key to Midway" (in the shape of a Laysan albatross) to Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary Bonnie Cohen. Now Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and visitors are welcome. This site explains how to get there and what to expect.
Norfolk Island - The Web Site - Before the first white man stepped ashore on Norfolk Island from the good ship Resolution , the island had long been a stopover for sea-roving Polynesians. Today, migratory birds make this lush, green island in the South Pacific Ocean their temporary resting place. Here, among the famed Norfolk pine trees that can reach 150 feet in height, no "fatal creature" dwells. Pretty peaceful, right? Yes, but it wasn't always like this. At one time, according to this site, it was home to "the most cruel British penal colony, ever." Set sail for the stunning images of Norfolk Island. Australia says Norfolk Island is an external territory of Australia. However, this page says there is no constitutional basis for that claim and that Norfolk Island is a British Crown colony.
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS - Between Guam and the Tropic of Cancer lie the 14 volcanic islands that make up this commonwealth. At this official site, you can read about them all. The island's inhabitants are U.S. citizens, and tourism is becoming a major industry. Garment manufacturing is another mainstay of the local economy, but it has become controversial in recent years.
Pacific Islands Internet Resources - Set sail for the Pacific and plot a course through the islands with help from the clickable map on this home page. Each map area takes you to a page with a list of sites on that country or island group. A pop-up menu takes you to other areas of the site. Pacific Islands Introduction includes the four major Pacific groups of Anglonesia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. The General Information Page includes Books, Document Collections, Media Resources, Travel & Tourist Info, and Newsgroups and Chat Rooms. The Geophysical Page has Maps & Images and Environmental Features. Are we there yet?
Paradise Live - Papua New Guinea's official tourism site has a host of interesting tidbits about the country. Find descriptions of the four major regions, information about the culture, rainforests, wildlife, and offshore activities including fishing and diving. This primitive land with its isolated, rainforested mountains still holds many secrets even today due to its remote, rugged terrain.
Past Residents of Midway Island Home Page - This is a famous World War II battle site, with many sunken wrecks in the area. For a view from those who served there, try this site.
RMI Online - This is the official site of the Republic of the Marshall Islands' U.S. embassy. You can see the flag, the official seal, the national anthem, and many maps of many atolls. Check out the audio phrasebook of Marshallese and information on traditional tattooing and foods. There's also a very interesting section on ordering stamps from the Marshall Islands. Subjects include Diana, Princess of Wales; Elvis; and folklore from the islands.
The Federated States of Micronesia - This island group, called the Federated States of Micronesia, is in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia. Its landscape varies from low coral atolls to high forested mountains. About 123,000 people live on these islands, which achieved independent nation status in 1991. Chuuk is a famous destination for scuba divers who want to explore a sunken Japanese fleet. Rural Kosrae has the smallest land mass. Pohnpei is famous for gourmet pepper. Yap consists of one volcanic complex of four islands plus 11 inhabited outer islands and atolls. Here you can learn something about each of these states.
The World Factbook Page on Navassa Island - This Caribbean island is strategically located, about one-fourth of the way from Haiti to Jamaica, south of Cuba. Haiti disputes the U.S. claim to the territory. Haitians fishing there often camp on the island, which has steep cliffs and is populated by goats and cactus. There's a little more information at the U.S. Department of the Interior's Fact Sheet at http://www.doi.gov/oia/oiafacts.html#page29 .
Tracing the Northwest Papua Patrol of 1926-28 - It's 1926. An expeditionary force set out through the mountains to do what had not been done by the governments of Papua or the Mandated Territory of New Guinea. The force was to cross New Guinea at its widest point, not knowing what kind of reception they would get from the local tribe. How did they fare? Thankfully, only one life was lost to disease and not one shot was fired in anger. Fast-forward 70 years to a group of Australians and Papua New Guineans who sought to retrace the steps of the earlier Northwest Patrol, only this time with helicopter resupply and remote satellite data updates to this Web site. Read and see the bold story of both parties.
Wake Island - This almost flat volcanic island group is in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands. About 300 people live there, and a U.S. military base is located there. It is also used as an emergency stopover for transpacific commercial aviation. Also known as Wake Atoll.
World Travel Guide - Palau - Palau, and its population of 17,000, is 600 miles east of the Philippines. It consists of several hundred volcanic islands and a few coral atolls, but only eight islands are inhabited. It has mineral resources, including gold, but its main industry is tourism. It is a world-famous area for scuba diving. Look at some stunning photos and get a little more information at the Under Watercolour Palau Pages at http://www.underwatercolours.com/palaupg.html .
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