Fiji Overview

Fiji or the Republic of the Fiji Islands is a country that is made up of 320 islands. Among these islands, 110 are home to human population. Fji is a country located in the South Pacific Ocean. The island nation of Fiji is spread across a total area of about 18,376 square kilometers. The 180 degrees meridian line running across the country has made it one of those countries which experience the rays of the morning sun before others. The local time of Fiji is calculated by adding 12 hours to the Greenwich Mean Time. Suva is the capital city of Fiji. Fiji is one of the favorite tourist destinations in the world and many travelers are interested in getting a Fiji overview. Viti Levu and Vanua Levu are among the premier islands and tourist destinations in the island nation. Fiji travel guide gives us a deeper insight of the different aspects of Fiji.

History of Fiji

To get a Fiji overview, it helps to know a bit about the history of the land. People from the South East Asia were the first to inhabit the country. During the 17th century, the island nation of Fiji was visited by explorers from Europe. In 1874, Fiji was converted into a colony by the British. The country was declared independent in the year 1970. But the year 1987 experienced a couple of military coups, resulting in the degradation of national economy. Even after the enactment of constitution in 1997, Fiji faced a civilian-led coup in 2000. The country got a democratically elected government in 2001. It was in 2006 that another military coup took place.

Fiji Geography

Let's have a brief Fiji overview of its geography. The geographic location of Fiji is at latitude of 15 - 22 degrees south and 177 degrees west to 175 degrees east. Most of the terrains of Fiji are mountainous that have originated from volcanoes. The innermost parts of the main island boasts carefree wild atmosphere. One can get the feel of wilderness in the form of tropical forests of Vanua Levu and Viti Levu. There are numerous far-off villages connected by some trails and roads.

Fiji Climate

The climate of Fiji has the tropical characteristics, which has its own advantages. The temperature is pretty moderate and humidity is also quite bearable. The period from May to November is the coolest as the south-east trade winds blows across the land. The months from December to April tend to be hotter. During this time, the mercury rises to about 320 Celsius. The humidity during the summers is comparatively on the higher side. Fiji has distinctive dry and wet zones. The south-east part basically forms the wet zone. Suva receives an average annual precipitation of about 385 cms.

Fiji Population

The approximate population of the Fiji Islands as of July 2006 was 905,949. Among them, more than 5o per cent are Fijians, and Indians consist of around 43 per cent of it. Besides, the Europeans, part-Europeans, Rotumans, Pacific Islanders and Chinese consists of the rest of the population.

Fiji Language

The official language of Fiji is English. Languages like Fijian and Hindi are also widely used.

Fiji Currency

The currency of Fiji is Fijian dollar.