Editing Micronesia (section)

==Geography==
Micronesia is a region in Oceania that includes approximately 2100 islands, with a total land area of {{convert|2,700|km2|abbr=on}}, the largest of which is [[Guam]], which covers {{convert|582|km2|abbr=on}}. The total ocean area within the perimeter of the islands is {{convert|7,400,000|km2|abbr=on}}.{{sfn|Kirch|2001|p=165}}

There are four main island groups in Micronesia:
* the [[Caroline Islands]] ([[Federated States of Micronesia]] and [[Palau]])
* the [[Gilbert Islands]] ([[Kiribati]])
* the [[Mariana Islands]] ([[Northern Mariana Islands]] and [[Guam]], US)
* the [[Marshall Islands]]

This does not include the separate island nation of [[Nauru]], along with other distinctly separate islands and smaller island groups.

===Caroline Islands===
The [[Caroline Islands]] are a widely scattered [[archipelago]] consisting of about 500 small [[coral island]]s, north of [[New Guinea]] and east of the [[Philippines]]. The Carolines consist of two nations: the [[Federated States of Micronesia]], consisting of approximately 600 islands on the eastern side of the chain with [[Kosrae]] being the most eastern; and [[Palau]] consisting of 250 islands on the western side.

===Gilbert Islands===
[[File:South Tarawa from the air.jpg|thumb|[[Tarawa Atoll]]]]
The [[Gilbert Islands]] are a chain of sixteen [[atoll]]s and coral islands, arranged in an approximate north-to-south line. In a geographical sense, the [[equator]] serves as the dividing line between the northern Gilbert Islands and the southern Gilbert Islands. The [[Kiribati|Republic of Kiribati]] contains all of the Gilberts, including the island of [[Tarawa]], the site of the country's capital.

===Mariana Islands===
[[File:Suicide Cliff in Saipan 3.JPG|thumb|Mount Marpi in [[Saipan]].]]
The [[Mariana Islands]] are an arc-shaped [[archipelago]] made up by the summits of fifteen volcanic mountains. The island chain rose as a result of the western edge of the [[Pacific Plate]] moving westward and plunging downward below the [[Mariana plate]], a region that is the most volcanically active convergent plate boundary on Earth. The Marianas were politically divided in 1898, when the United States acquired title to [[Guam]] under the [[Treaty of Paris (1898)|Treaty of Paris, 1898]], which ended the [[Spanish–American War]]. Spain then sold the remaining northerly islands to [[German Empire|Germany]] in 1899. Germany lost all of her colonies at the end of [[World War I]] and the [[Northern Mariana Islands]] became a [[League of Nations]] Mandate, with [[Japan]] as the mandatory. After [[World War II]], the islands were transferred into the [[United Nations]] [[United Nations Trust Territories|Trust Territory]] System, with the [[United States]] as Trustee. In 1976, the Northern Mariana Islands and the United States entered into a covenant of political union under which commonwealth status was granted the Northern Mariana Islands and its residents received United States citizenship.

===Marshall Islands===
[[File:Laura beach n tree (170671778).jpg|thumb|Beach scenery at [[Laura, Marshall Islands|Laura]], [[Majuro]], Marshall Islands]]
The [[Marshall Islands]] are located north of [[Nauru]] and [[Kiribati]], east of the [[Federated States of Micronesia]], and south of the U.S. territory of [[Wake Island]]. The islands consist of 29 low-lying [[atoll]]s and 5 isolated islands,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rmiembassyus.org/Geography.htm|title=Geography Overview | work = Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands | publisher = Republic of the Marshall Islands |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115173707/http://rmiembassyus.org/Geography.htm|archive-date=15 November 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> comprising 1,156 individual islands and [[islet]]s. The atolls and islands form two groups: the [[Ratak Chain]] and the [[Ralik Chain]] (meaning "sunrise" and "sunset" chains). All the islands in the chain are part of the [[Republic of the Marshall Islands]], a [[Presidential system|presidential]] [[republic]] in [[Associated state|free association]] with the United States. Having few natural resources, the islands' wealth is based on a [[service economy]], as well as some [[fishing]] and [[agriculture]]. Of the 29 atolls, 24 of them are inhabited.

[[Bikini Atoll]] is an atoll in the Marshall Islands. There are 23 islands in the Bikini Atoll. The islands of Bokonijien, Aerokojlol and part of Nam were destroyed during nuclear tests that occurred there.<ref name=facts>{{cite web|title=Bikini Atoll Reference Facts | work = Bikini Atoll |url=http://www.bikiniatoll.com/facts.html|access-date=12 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/uploads/nominations/1339.pdf |title=Bikini Atoll |date=January 2009 |publisher=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |page=20 |access-date=2024-07-29}}</ref> The islands are composed of low coral limestone and sand.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Emery|first1=Kenneth O.|last2=Tracey|first2=J. I. Jr.|last3=Ladd|first3=H.S.|date=1954|title=Geology of Bikini and Nearby Atolls|url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/0260a/report.pdf|access-date=20 April 2021}}</ref> The average elevation is only about {{convert|7|ft|order=flip}} above low tide level.<ref>{{cite report|title=The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States, 2002|publisher=U.S. Dept. of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service|location=Silver Spring, MD|year=2002|oclc=255883515|issn=1949-7105|url=https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/project/state-coral-reef-ecosystems-united-states-pacific-freely-associated-states/|access-date=June 8, 2024}}</ref>

<gallery class="center" caption="" widths="175px" heights="175px">
File:Castle Bravo Blast.jpg|Image of the [[Castle Bravo]] nuclear test, detonated on 1 March 1954, at [[Bikini Atoll]]
File:Cross spikes club.jpg|An illustration of the Cross Spikes Club<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/ac/bikini/bikini1.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000521071018/http://history.navy.mil/ac/bikini/bikini1.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 May 2000 |title=Operation Crossroads: Bikini Atoll |work=Navy Historical Center |publisher=Department of the Navy |access-date=4 December 2013 }}</ref> of the US Navy on [[Bikini Atoll]], one of several Marshall Islands used for [[Bikini atomic experiments|atomic bomb tests]].
File:Kili Island - NASA Astronaut Photography.png|[[Kili Island]] is one of the smallest islands in the [[Marshall Islands]].
</gallery>

===Nauru===
[[Nauru]] is an oval-shaped [[island country]] in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, {{convert|42|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} south of the [[Equator]], listed as the [[List of countries by area|world's smallest republic]], covering just {{convert|21|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name=CIA>{{cite web|author=Central Intelligence Agency |author-link=Central Intelligence Agency |work=[[The World Factbook]] |title=Nauru |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nauru/ |year=2011 |access-date=12 February 2011 }}</ref> With {{UN_Population|Nauru}} residents, it is the third [[List of countries by population|least-populated country]], after [[Vatican City]] and [[Tuvalu]]. The island is surrounded by a coral reef, which is exposed at low tide and dotted with pinnacles.<ref name=state/> The presence of the reef has prevented the establishment of a [[seaport]], although [[Canals in Nauru|channels]] in the reef allow small boats access to the island.<ref>{{cite web|page=234|url=http://www.sprep.org/att/IRC/eCOPIES/Countries/Nauru/11.pdf|last1=Thaman | first1 = RR |last2=Hassall | first2 = DC |publisher=South Pacific Regional Environment Programme|title=Nauru: National Environmental Management Strategy and National Environmental Action Plan | year = 1996 }}</ref> A fertile coastal strip {{convert|150|to|300|m|ft|abbr=on}} wide lies inland from the beach.<ref name=state>{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/16447.htm|title=Background Note: Nauru|publisher=State Department Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs|date=September 2005|access-date=11 May 2006}}</ref>

<gallery class="center" caption="" widths="175px" heights="175px">
File:Aerial view of Nauru.jpg|Aerial view of Nauru
File:Nauru Denigomodu-Nibok.jpg|Nauruan districts of [[Denigomodu]] and [[Nibok]]
</gallery>

===Wake Island===
[[Wake Island]] is a coral atoll with a coastline of {{convert|12|mi|km|abbr=on|order=flip}} just north of the [[Marshall Islands]]. It is an [[Territories of the United States#Minor Outlying Islands|unorganized]], [[unincorporated territory]] of the United States. Access to the island is restricted and all activities on the island are managed by the [[United States Air Force]]. While geographically adjacent, it is not ethnoculturally part of Micronesia, due to its historical lack of human inhabitation.{{cn|date=February 2023}} Micronesians may have possibly visited Wake Island in prehistoric times to harvest fish, but there is nothing to suggest any kind of settlement.<ref name="sprep">{{Cite web |title=The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the U.S. Pacific Remote Island Areas |url=https://www.sprep.org/attachments/15.pdf |website=[[Pacific Regional Environment Programme]]}}</ref>

<gallery class="center" caption="" widths="175px" heights="175px">
File:Wake Island by Agate.jpg|Wake Island as depicted by the [[United States Exploring Expedition]], drawn by [[Alfred Thomas Agate]]
File:Wake Island air.JPG|Aerial view Wake Island, looking westward
</gallery>

===Geology===
{{Expand section|date=December 2013}}
The majority of the islands in the area are part of a [[atoll|coral atoll]]. Coral atolls begin as [[coral reefs]] that grow on the slopes of a central [[volcano]]. When the volcano sinks back down into the sea, the coral continues to grow, keeping the reef at or above water level. One exception is [[Pohnpei State|Pohnpei]] in the [[Federated States of Micronesia]], which still has the central volcano and coral reefs around it.

===Fauna===
{{main|List of mammals of Micronesia|List of birds of Micronesia}}The [[Yap|Yap Islands]] host a number of endemic bird species, including the [[Yap monarch]] and the [[Rukia|Olive white-eye]], in addition to four other restricted-range bird species.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=Yap Islands State, Federated States of Micronesia {{!}} Ecoregions {{!}} WWF|url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/oc0204|access-date=2021-01-12|website=World Wildlife Fund|language=en}}</ref> The endangered [[Yap flying fox|Yap flying-fox]], though often considered a subspecies of the Pelew flying fox or the [[Mariana fruit bat]], is also endemic to Yap.<ref name=":0" /> [[File:SpinnerDolphinsoffKauai 1999-03-15.jpg|thumb|[[Spinner dolphin]]s]]
{{Expand section|date=December 2013}}

===Climate===
The region has a [[tropical marine climate]] moderated by seasonal northeast [[trade winds]]. There is little seasonal temperature variation. The dry season runs from December or January to June and the rainy season from July to November or December. Because of the location of some islands, the rainy season can sometimes include [[typhoon]]s.