什么是密克罗尼西亚

正式名称密克罗尼西亚联邦（Federated States of Micronesia）

西太平洋共和国，由加罗林群岛的雅浦（Yap）、丘克（Chuuk）、波纳佩（Pohnpei）和科斯拉伊（Kosrae）四个岛州组成。面积701平方公里。人口约118,000（2001）。首都︰帕里克尔，位於最大的岛屿波纳佩岛。联邦的人民为密克罗尼西亚人。语言：马来－玻里尼西亚语、英语。宗教：基督教（居主要地位）。货币︰美元（U.S.$）。各岛及环礁东西连绵约2,800公里，南北宽约965公里。美国政府的拨款是岁入的主要来源，自给自足的农业和捕鱼业为主要经济活动。政府形式为与美国有自由联盟协定的共和国，一院制。国家元首暨政府首脑为总统。

大约在3,500年前，来自东美拉尼西亚的人可能已在各岛上定居。17世纪时成为西班牙的殖民地，第一次世界大战後受日本统治，第二次世界大战时被美军占领，1947年成为联合国太平洋岛屿托管地的一部分，由美国监管。1979年成为联邦，实行内部自治。1982年与美国签订自由联盟协定，根据该协定，至2001年为止，美国须为密克罗尼西亚的防御负责。1990年代末，共和国竭力解决经济困难。

Micronesia

Republic, western Pacific Ocean. It comprises the four island states of Yap, Chuuk (Truk), Pohnpei (Ponape), and Kosrae, all in the Caroline Islands. Area: 271 sq mi (701 sq km). Population (1997 est.): 109,000. Capital: Palikir on the island of Pohnpei, the largest island. The people of the Federated States are Micronesian. Languages: Malayo-Polynesian languages, English. Religions: Christianity (predominant). Currency: U.S. dollar. The islands and atolls extend about 1,750 mi (2,800 km) east-west and about 600 mi (965 km) north-south. U.S. government grants constitute the main source of revenue; subsistence farming and fishing are the principal economic activities. It is a republic in free association was the U.S., and has one legislative house; its head of state and government is the president. The islands were probably settled by people from eastern Melanesia some 3,500 years ago. They were colonized by Spain in the 17th century and came under Japanese rule after World War I. They were captured by U.S. forces during World War II, and in 1947 they became part of the U.N. Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, administered by the U.S. The islands became an internally self-governing federation in 1979. In 1982 the Federated States signed a compact of free association with the U.S., which is responsible for Micronesia's defense until 2001. In the late 1990s, the republic was struggling to solve its economic difficulties.