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South Pacific Islands

Marshall Islands

This illustration is from Encarta.

The Marshall Islands consists of 34 atolls in two groups: the southeastern Ratak Chain and the northwestern Ralik Chain. The Marshall "Islands" are atolls and coral reefs, and the inhabitants are Micronesian.

The chief industries are agriculture and fishing; the major export is copra.

The islands were sighted by the Spanish in 1526 but remained essentially uncolonized until the late 19th century.

In 1946 an American task force used Bikini atoll as a nuclear testing ground. The Marshalls became a trusteeship of the United States in 1947 and self-governing in 1979, with a locally drafted constitution, a popularly elected legislature, and a president. The trusteeship was formally dissolved by the UN Security Council in 1990, and the country was admitted to the United Nations in 1991.

Area, 181 sq km (70 sq mi); population (1990 estimate) 45,600.

to learn about the Marshall Islands.

to visit George Seitz Elementary School on Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands

Bibliography :

Encarta 96 Encyclopaedia
CD ROM by Microsoft Pty Ltd

The World Book Multimedia Encyclopaedia
World Book, Inc

Compton's Interactive World Atlas

Encarta World Atlas 1998

Research by Simeon 6H

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Elanora Heights Primary School Computer Co-ordinator : Judith Bennett

This page was last modified on 28th November, 1998