Federated States of Micronesia
Four island states across the western Pacific
The Federated States of Micronesia spread across a huge swath of the western Pacific, a federation of four states, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae, that together comprise more than six hundred islands. They range from high volcanic islands cloaked in rainforest to low coral atolls, and harbor some of the most remarkable sites in Oceania: the ancient stone city of Nan Madol off Pohnpei, the giant stone money of Yap, and the sunken Japanese fleet in Chuuk Lagoon, now a famous dive site. The capital, Palikir, sits on Pohnpei.
The country's islands fall into two types: high volcanic islands, such as Pohnpei and Kosrae, which are mountainous, wet, and densely forested, and low coral atolls scattered widely across the ocean. The highest point, Dolohmwar on Pohnpei, rises to 791 meters. Pohnpei is among the rainiest places on Earth, drenched by tropical downpours that feed lush jungle and waterfalls. The vast surrounding ocean, rich in tuna, anchors the economy, while the low atolls face the same climate threats common across the region.
Micronesian peoples settled the islands over thousands of years and built sophisticated societies, including the builders of Nan Madol's basalt megaliths. After Spanish, German, and Japanese rule, the islands came under United States administration as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific after the Second World War. The Federated States of Micronesia became independent in 1986 under a Compact of Free Association with the United States. The economy relies on that compact, fishing licenses, and subsistence agriculture across its dispersed island communities.