| Viewing a map of the pacific islands, the vast | | | | (of "Mutiny on the Bounty fame) and Easter |
| open seas of the Pacific startle the imagination. | | | | Island comprise some of the South Pacific |
| Like tiny dots and dashes enclosed by an oceanic | | | | mapscape. |
| giant, the pacific islands are separated into two | | | | Though earlier maps were drawn as adventurous |
| regions: The North Pacific Ocean and the South | | | | seafarers discovered islands in the uncharted |
| Pacific Ocean. | | | | waters of the vast Pacific Ocean, tourism has |
| Islands located in the North Pacific extend | | | | refined these maps and altered many of the |
| northward from the Aleutian Islands between | | | | cultures of natives throughout Polynesia, |
| Russia and Alaska, southward to the Hawaiian | | | | Micronesia and Melanesia. As well, territorially, Chile |
| Islands which includes Wake, Midway and the | | | | lays claim to Easter Island while New Herbrides is |
| Hawaiian Islands: Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, Kauai, Lanai | | | | a British territory. The US granted statehood to |
| and Molokai in the North Pacific Ocean. | | | | Hawaii, its 50th state to join the union and claims |
| But, a map of the pacific islands in the South | | | | Guam, Wake, American Samoa and Midway as its |
| Pacific, often referred to as "Oceania", embrace | | | | Pacific territories. Tahiti is a French colony and |
| three ethnic divisions: Polynesia, Micronesia and | | | | both native Tahitian and French are spoken |
| Melanesia. Topographically, these islands are | | | | throughout the island. New Zealand has small |
| partially submerged mountain chains rising from | | | | holdings consisting of the Cook Islands, Niue and |
| the depths of the Pacific Ocean floor. Some are | | | | Tokelau Islands. The US also controls Ryukyu, |
| still volcanically active. The so-called "low islands" | | | | Bonin and the Volcano and Marcus islands in a |
| built by coral reefs are mostly ring-like shapes | | | | peace settlement with Japan. New Caledonia |
| with an expanse of lagoon. These are known as | | | | remains a part of the French Republic as part of |
| "atolls". Most of these are also marked by | | | | French Polynesia. |
| temperate tropical climates, littered with coconut | | | | The history of discovery and navigation of the |
| palms and other lush vegetation. | | | | islands in the Pacific likely date back to days |
| A map of the pacific islands projects an actual | | | | before written records. Many of those who |
| land mass of about 400,000 square miles spread | | | | represent the populations of Pacific Islands have |
| over an oceanic area of 8 million square | | | | unique histories as well. Often, following a tribal |
| miles-one-seventh of the earth's surface. The | | | | battle,certain members were banished and exiled |
| islands of Palau, Tarawa, Bikini (an atoll known for | | | | which led to discoveries of other islands where |
| US nuclear testing), Guam, Samoa, Okinawa (a | | | | they settled and established new colonies. These |
| large US military theater during World War II), | | | | new colonies then added texture to the overall |
| Gilbert Islands, New Herbrides, the Solomon | | | | map itself as well as to the increasing of variables |
| Islands, Marianas, Marshall Islands, Tahiti, Caroline | | | | in culture. |
| Atoll, Tonga, Tuamotu Archipelago, Cook, Pitcairn | | | | |