Fiji
Fiji is island nation in the South Pacific Ocean, west of Tonga and east Vanuatu. The country occupies a cluster of about 322 islands, of which 106 are permanently inhabited. The two major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu account for 87% of the population.
Fiji's main island, Viti Levu is where the name 'Fiji' is derived. Fijians called their home 'Viti', but on the nearby island of Tonga, they called 'Fisi' and it is by this foreign pronunciation, Fiji, first promulgated by Captain Cook, that the islands are now known. In 1970, Fiji became independent after nearly a century as a British colony.
Its population is just under 1 million at around 930,000 people, around 55% are Fijian, 37% Indian and about 8% of European, Chinese and other Pacific Islanders. The capital city, Suva is the most populated city, with 167,975 people, followed by Lautoka with around 43,000 people and Nadi at about 31,000.
Fiji is near the International Date Line that sits on the 180 degree longitude line in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. When travelling East towards Samoa and Hawaii, the time changes by 24 hours as you've suddenly changed from +12 GMT to -12 GMT.
Fiji's main island, Viti Levu is where the name 'Fiji' is derived. Fijians called their home 'Viti', but on the nearby island of Tonga, they called 'Fisi' and it is by this foreign pronunciation, Fiji, first promulgated by Captain Cook, that the islands are now known. In 1970, Fiji became independent after nearly a century as a British colony.
Its population is just under 1 million at around 930,000 people, around 55% are Fijian, 37% Indian and about 8% of European, Chinese and other Pacific Islanders. The capital city, Suva is the most populated city, with 167,975 people, followed by Lautoka with around 43,000 people and Nadi at about 31,000.
Fiji is near the International Date Line that sits on the 180 degree longitude line in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. When travelling East towards Samoa and Hawaii, the time changes by 24 hours as you've suddenly changed from +12 GMT to -12 GMT.
Tavarua, Fiji