According to estatelearning, Tonga is located in the South Pacific Ocean, bordered by Fiji to the west, Samoa to the north and New Zealand to the south. It covers an area of 747 square kilometers and has a population of 103,000 people. The capital city is Nuku’alofa, while other major cities include Neiafu and Pangai. The official language is English but Tongan and Fijian are also widely spoken throughout the country. Tonga has a tropical climate with warm temperatures throughout the year. Its landscape consists of coral reefs along its coastline (including Vava’u Islands) as well as low hills in the central region (including Lifuka Island) and lagoons in the west (including Nomuka Lagoon). Tonga’s economy is heavily reliant on fishing with its main exports being fish, coconuts, squash and honey. Tourism also plays an important role in its economy; visitors come from around the world to experience its vibrant culture such as Heilala Festival or explore its stunning beaches such as Ha’atafu Beach or ‘Ano Beach.
Prehistory
Tonga was populated from Melanesia in the latter half of the 1000s BC by people who made so-called lapita ceramics (see lapita culture). About 1000 AD large stone-edged grave structures, so-called langi and faitoka, began to be erected. These are linked to the emergence of the powerful chiefdom that was described by European explorers in the 18th century. In Hahake on Tongatapu there is a megalithic trilite, Ha’amonga-a-Maui, the only one of its kind in the Pacific region.
- Countryaah: Check to see the location of Tonga on the world map. Also covers major mountains, rivers and lakes in Tonga.
History
Tonga was visited by Dutch in the early 17th century, and in 1773 James Cook named the archipelago the name Friendly Islands (‘Friendship Islands’). In 1826, the Methodists established a mission in Tonga and converted, among other things, the traditional leader Taufa’ahau, who then became king under the name of George Tupou I. In separate agreements, Germany (1876), Britain (1879) and the United States (1888) guaranteed independence for Tonga., who nevertheless became the British protectorate in 1900. Tonga gained independence in the Commonwealth in 1970. For a long time the king and a number of noble families held power, but in 2010 democratic reforms were implemented and the country’s first democratic elections. See also State Condition and Politics. To see more information other than history, please visit Abbreviationfinder to learn more about climate, population, government, and economy for the country of Tonga.
Food imports have increased as a result of growing tourism industry. Environmental problems have arisen; The coral reefs are beginning to be over-exploited, and forests are being harvested to make room for agriculture and new housing. See also State Condition and Politics above.