Fiji is in the tropics about 500 miles (800 kilometers) southwest of Samoa and 1,100 miles (1,800 kilometers) north of New Zealand. Other things I discovered after I arrived. Fiji is a major tourist location, with its white sandy beaches, beautiful islands, all-year-round tropical weather and stunning coral reefs it is a popular destination for tourists from countries such as Australia, New Zealand and the USA. And the Fijians – who famously adore children – have smiles and hugs for every little visitor. Fiji has a significant amount of tourism with the popular regions being Nadi, the Coral Coast, Denarau Island, and Mamanuca Islands. The Group Against Racial Discrimination (GARD) was formed to oppose the unilaterally imposed constitution and to restore the 1970 constitution. The team won gold medals at the 2007 and 2015 Pacific Games. A remote island, split by a narrow, 57 m deep cleft in two parts. google_ad_client = "pub-4643150179421087"; Peel the tough outer layer and chew on the woody insides to squeeze out the sweet juice. The concept of family and community is of great importance to Fijian culture. About three quarters of the over 800,000 people live on its largest island of Viti Levu. Fiji or Republic of Fiji is actually an island nation with about 332 (though some sources have said 333) islands and 110 are inhabited. By:Sanjeev Narayan . Fiji Kids already supports the neediest in the community, but poverty just got a whole lot worse. The Republic of Fiji is an archipelago of 332 islands in the continent of Oceania, located in the South Pacific Ocean north of New Zealand. The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman visited Fiji in 1643 while looking for the Great Southern Continent. The highest point is Mount Tomanivi on Viti Levu. Since the 1930s the population of Fiji has increased at a rate of 1.1% per year. Bainimarama handed down a list of demands to Qarase after a bill was put forward to parliament, part of which would have offered pardons to participants in the 2000 coup attempt. Its closest neighbours are Vanuatu to the west, New Caledonia to the southwest, New Zealand's Kermadec Islands to the southeast, Tonga to the east, the Samoas and France's Wallis and Futuna to the northeast, and Tuvalu to the north. Bau Island was home to Seru Epenisa Cakobau, the chief who eventually became the self-proclaimed King of Fiji. The sport is governed by the Fiji Rugby Union which is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, and contributes to the Pacific Islanders rugby union team. Peel the tough outer layer and chew on the woody insides to squeeze out the sweet juice. Inter-island ferries provide services between Fiji's principal islands and large vessels operate roll-on-roll-off services, transporting vehicles and large amounts of cargo between the main island of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, and other smaller islands. Haf’liua– Rotuma. So while these might not be the most useful facts about Fiji, they are, in our opinion, the most fun! Fiji is a kids’ own adventure story writ large. The Botanical Gardens of Thursten in Suva, Sigatoka Sand Dunes, and Colo-I-Suva Forest Park are three options on the mainland (Viti Levu). 4.5% Others (European, part European, other. The two coups and the accompanying civil unrest contributed to heavy Indo-Fijian emigration; the resulting population loss resulted in economic difficulties and ensured that Melanesians became the majority. Kinship is determined through a child's lineage to a particular spiritual leader, so that a clan is based on traditional customary ties as opposed to actual biological links. For more information, check out maps of Fiji or take a closer look at the Fijian flag. Within the indigenous (iTaukei) communities many members of the extended family will adopt particular titles and roles of direct guardians. Members of the team are selected from a domestic Fijian competition, as well as from competitions held in New Zealand and Australia. The 2007 census found that the permanent population of Fiji was 837,000. The biggest sources of international visitors by country are Australia, New Zealand and the United States. There are 322 islands in Fiji and over 500 small islets. The Fiji national rugby league team, nicknamed the Bati (pronounced [mˈbatʃi]), represents Fiji in the sport of rugby league football and has been participating in international competition since 1992. Fiji was a British colony for around 100 years when in 1970 it became an independent country. Want more incredible content from Getty Images? Fiji's culture was showcased at the World Exposition held in Vancouver, Canada, in 1986 and more recently at the Shanghai World Expo 2010, along with other Pacific countries in the Pacific Pavilion. In addition, a significant number of former military personnel have served in the lucrative security sector in Iraq following the 2003 US-led invasion. Fiji heart shaped island MORE OF WTF-FUN-FACTS are coming HERE funny and weird facts ONLY Fiji qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics men's tournament for the first time in history. The population density at the time was 45.8 inhabitants per square kilometre. 2. Racial … Within the matangali are a number of smaller collectives, known as the mbito. Fiji is the hub of the South West Pacific, midway between Vanuatu and Tonga. Democratic rule was interrupted by two military coups in 1987 precipitated by a growing perception that the government was dominated by the Indo-Fijian (Indian) community. google_ad_slot = "5655995158"; Endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, Fiji is one of the most developed of the Pacific island economies, though still with a large subsistence sector. Rotumais located 220 nautical miles (410 km; 250 mi… In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Dutch and the British explored Fiji. The Fijian flag is similar to both the Australian and New Zealand flags. Fiji is currently ranked eleventh in the world by the IRB (as of 28 December  2015 (2015 -12-28)[update]). Be sure to check out their page here: https://www.gettyimages.com/ What do you know about Fiji? The British subjugated the islands as a colony in 1874, and the British brought over Indian contract labourers to work on the sugar plantations as the first governor of Fiji, Arthur Charles Hamilton-Gordon, adopted a policy disallowing the use of native labour or any interference in their culture or way of life. In April 2009, the Fiji Court of Appeal ruled that the 2006 coup had been illegal. Missionaries in the 1840s chose an Eastern dialect, the speech of Bau Island off the southeast coast of the main island of Viti Levu, to be the written standard of the Fijian language. It consists of a Union Jack in the top left corner of a bright blue field. The 180° meridian runs through Taveuni but the International Date Line is bent to give uniform time (UTC+12) to all of the Fiji group. Across 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) from east to west, Fiji has been a nation of many languages. The population of Fiji is mostly made up of native Fijians, who are Melanesians (54.3%), although many also have Polynesian ancestry, and Indo-Fijians (38.1%), descendants of Indian contract labourers brought to the islands by the British colonial powers in the 19th century. He has ruled Fiji without free elections since. The Cibi (pronounced Thimbi) war dance was traditionally performed by the Fiji rugby team before each match. Fijian is an Austronesian language of the Malayo-Polynesian family spoken in Fiji. Lower interest rates have so far not produced greater investment in exports. Association football was traditionally a minor sport in Fiji, popular largely amongst the Indo-Fijian community, but with international funding from FIFA and sound local management over the past decade, the sport has grown in popularity in the wider Fijian community. Trade between Fiji and neighbouring archipelagos long before European contact is testified by the canoes made from native Fijian trees found in Tonga and Tongan words being part of the language of the Lau group of islands. With the exception of Rotuma, the Fiji group lies between 15° 42′ and 20° 02′ south. These clans, based on the spiritual leader, are known as a matangali. Indo-Fijians suffered reprisals for a period after the Fiji coup of 2000. But who doesn’t like a good fact? The islands are mountainous, with peaks up to 1,324 metres (4,341 ft), and covered with thick tropical forests. With the exception of Rotuma, the Fiji group lies between 15° 42′ and 20° 02′ south. Fiji has several popular tourism destinations. The two major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, account for 87% of the population of almost 883,000. The national rugby union team has competed at five Rugby World Cup competitions, the first being in 1987, where they reached the quarter-finals. The total membership of other ethnic groups of Pacific Islanders is about 7,300. About three quarters of the over 800,000 people live on its largest island of Viti Levu. Official statistics show that in 2012, 75% of visitors stated that they came for a holiday/vacation. Qarase adamantly refused either to concede or resign, and on 5 December the president, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, was said to have signed a legal order dissolving the parliament after meeting with Bainimarama. The second 1987 coup saw both the Fijian monarchy and the Governor General replaced by a non-executive president and the name of the country changed from Dominion of Fiji to Republic of Fiji and then in 1997 to Republic of the Fiji Islands. With your support, we will make sure each family receives a big family hamper full of nutritious basics, and some lovely Christmas treats. When Fiji’s first settlers arrived from the islands of Melanesia at least 3,500 years ago, they carried with them a wide range of food plants, the pig, and a style of pottery known as Lapita ware. Sports are very popular in Fiji, particularly sports involving physical contact. Fiji. The first settlements in Fiji were started by voyaging traders and settlers from the west about 5000 years ago. Cricket Fiji is an associate member of the International Cricket Council ("ICC"). Viti Levu hosts the capital city of Suva, and is home to nearly three-quarters of the population. The southwestern Pacific island nation of Fiji was a crown colony of Great Britain for 96 years until it won independence in 1970. The Fiji Republic is actually not just one beautiful island but an archipelago of some 333 islands and over 500 islets. Fiji consists of 332 islands (of which 106 are inhabited) and 522 smaller islets. , Science Kids ©  |  Home  |  About  |  Topics  |  Experiments  |  Games  |  Facts  |  Quizzes  |  Projects  |  Lessons  |  Images  |  Videos  |  Privacy  |  Sitemap  |  Updated: Apr 11, 2020. 1. If you’re planning a trip to the beautiful islands of Fiji, then you might want to learn a little bit more about it. Winds are moderate, though cyclones occur about once a year (10–12 times per decade). The British granted Fiji independence in 1970. The warm season is from November to April and the cooler season lasts from May to October. The Nadi International Airport is located 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) north of central Nadi and is the largest Fijian hub. Fiji competes in the Pacific Tri-Nations and the IRB Pacific Nations Cup. Rugby Union is the most popular sport in Fiji with a participation rate of nearly 10% of the population.