Childrens Illustrated World Atlas

Gulf of

Papua

Solomon Sea

Bismarck Sea

Coral Sea

PACIFIC

OCEAN

New Guinea

New

Britain

New Ireland

Bougainville

Island

New

Caledonia

Espiritu Santo

Erromango

Tanna

Aneityum

Efate

Epi

Ambrym

Pentecost

Maéwo

Malekula

Guadalcanal

San Cristobal

Rennell

Malaita

Santa Isabel

Choiseul

Babeldaob

Pohnpei

Kosrae

Chuuk

Islands

Rota

Yap

Funafuti

Atoll

Nukulaelae

Niulakita

Kadavu

Rotuma

Cikobia

Île Futuna

Île Uvea

Tongatapu

'Eua

Tofua

Vava‘u

Group

Niuatoputapu

Nukufetau

Nui Atoll

Nanumaga

Niutao

Nanumea Atoll

Atafu Atoll

Fakaofo Atoll

Nukunonu

Atoll

Viti

Levu

Vanua Levu

Savai‘i

‘Upolu

Tutuila

Arorae

Nonouti

Tamana

Tarawa

Banaba

Nikunau

Beru

Abemama

Makin

Maloelap Atoll

Mili Atoll

Jaluit Atoll

Ebon

Atoll

Ailinglaplap

Atoll

Namu Atoll

Ujelang Atoll

Enewetak

Atoll

Bikini

Atoll

Rongelap

Atoll

Nikumaroro

Orona Manra

McKean Island

Birnie Island

Enderbury

Island

Kanton

Malden Island

Starbuck

Island

Kiritimati

(Christmas Island)

Tabuaeran

Teraina

Vostok Island

Flint Island

Raiatea

Millennium

Island

Manihiki

Rakahanga

Penrhyn

Rarotonga

Mangaia

Marotiri

Palmerston

Takutea

Manuae

Tahiti

Maré

Lifou

Ouvéa

Ta'ū

D'Entrecasteaux

Islands

So

lo

mo

n

Is

la

n

d

s

Majuro Atoll

Tinian

Saipan

Kwajalein

Atoll

Nuku Hiva

Hiva Oa

Fatu Hiva

Takaroa

Fakarava

Tikehau

Makemo

Amanu

Ahunui

Tatakoto

Fangataufa

Marutea

Tureia

Vanavana

Rurutu

Tubuai

Raevavae

Admiralty

Islands

(^) I

le

s

Lo

ya

ut

é

Santa Cruz

Islands

M e l a n e s i a

P o l y n e s i a

M i c r o n e s i a

Ca r

o l i

n e

Is

l a

n

ds

R

at

ak

(^) C

h

ai

n

R

a

l

i

k

(^) C

h

a

in

Ha‘apai

Group

To

ng

atap

Gro u

up

T u n g a r

u

Îl

es

(^) A
us
tr
a
le
s
L i n e I s l a n d s
Southern Cook
Islands
Northern Cook
Islands
(^) A
rc
hi
pe
l (^) d
e
la
Soc
iété
Tu
am
otu
(^) Isla
nds

Louisiade

Archipelago

New Georgia

Islands

Banks

Islands

Bismarck (^) Archi
pela
go
St.Matthias Group
Phoenix Islands
La
u
G
ro
u
p
Marquesas
Islands
International
Dateline
International Dateline
COOK ISLANDS
(to New Zealand)
FRENCH POLYNESIA
(to France)
NEW
CALEDONIA
(to France)
NIUE
(to New Zealand)
WALLIS &
FUTUNA
(to France)
AMERICAN
SAMOA
(to US)
TOKELAU
(to New Zealand)
GUAM
(to US)
NORTHERN
MARIANA
ISLANDS
(to US)
CORAL SEA
ISLANDS
(to Australia)
BAKER & HOWLAND
ISLANDS
(to US)
JARVIS ISLAND
(to US)
PALMYRA ATOLL
(to US)
KINGMAN
REEF
(to US)
INDONESIA
TONGA
FIJI
SAMOA
TUVALU
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
VANUATU
SOLOMON
ISLANDS
NAURU
KIRIBATI
PALAU
MICRONESIA
MARSHALL ISLANDS
KIRIBATI
KIRIBATI
Mount Wilhelm
14,793ft (4509m)

Cent

ral

Ra

ng

e

O

w

en

(^) S
ta
nl
ey
(^) R
an
ge
Madang
Nadi
Lae

ALOFI

PAPEETE

PAGO PAGO

AVARUA

NOUMÉA

MATA'UTU

HAGATÑA

.

HONIARA

PORT-VILA

PORT MORESBY

MELEKEOK PALIKIR

BAIRIKI

FONGAFALE

SUVA

NUKU‘ ALOFA

APIA

Equator

Tropic of Capricorn

Equator

Tropic of Capricorn

A

B

B

C

C

D

D

E

E

F

F G H

I

I

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

SW Pacific

The islands of the southwest Pacific are

home to people of many different cultures

and languages. The islands are divided into

three general groups based on their location

and the similarities between their peoples.

The Polynesian islands to the

east include Tonga, Samoa,

the Cook Islands, and Tahiti.

Melanesia includes Fiji,

the Solomon Islands,

and Vanuatu. The

smallest group,

Micronesia, includes

the Marshall, Kiribati,

and Caroline Islands.

The first Europeans

came to the southwest Pacific

in the 1600s, several thousand years

after Melanesians, Micronesians,

and Polynesians first arrived.

ISLAND

HOLIDAYS

White sandy

beaches and

warm water

makes this region

ideal for tourists.

A MIX OF RELIGIONS

Christianity is the dominant religion on most

southwest Pacific islands. However Islam and

Hinduism are also practiced. Many people also

retain beliefs from traditional religions that existed

before the islands were colonized by people from

Europe and Asia.

Men in Papua New

Guinea wearing

traditional make-up

Beads, shells,

and feathers

form part of

the decoration.

Vanuatu tribespeople

dancing at a religious

ceremony

LAND OF MANY LANGUAGES

Historically, the mountainous landscape of

Papua New Guinea made contact between the villages

difficult. As a result of many years of isolation,

some villages developed their

own individual languages.

Nationwide, about

800 different

languages evolved.

102

Australasia & Oceania

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