Marshall Islands - Administrative divisions, Geography, Mexican Fishermen

Timezone GMT +12

Area c.180 km²/70 sq mi population total (2002e) 56 600 Status Republic Date of independence 1986 Capital Delap-Uliga-Darrit (municipality on Majuro Atoll) Languages Marshallese (Kajin-Majol) (official), English and Japanese also spoken Ethnic group Micronesian (99%) Religions Christian (Protestant 90%, Roman Catholic 8%) Physical features Archipelago in C Pacific Ocean; comprising 34 islands, including Kwajalein and Jaluit, and 870 reefs; two parallel chains of coral atolls, Ratik (E) and Ralik (W), extending c.925 km/800 mi in length; volcanic islands, rise no more than a few metres above sea level. Climate Hot and humid; wet season (May–Nov); typhoon season (Dec–Mar); average annual temperature 27°C. Currency 1 US Dollar (USD) = 100 cents Economy Farming; fishing; tropical agriculture; coconuts, tomatoes, melons, breadfruit. GDP (2001e) $115 mn, per capita $1600 History Explored by the Spanish, 1529; part of UN Trust Territory of the Pacific, 1949–78, administered by the USA; US nuclear weapon tests held on Bikini and Eniwetak atolls, 1946–62; self-governing republic, 1979; compact of free association with the USA in 1986 with US recognizing independence; trusteeship ended, 1990; governed by a President elected by a Parliament.

Aolepān Aorōkin M̧ajeļ Republic of the Marshall Islands
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Jepilpilin ke ejukaan"
Anthem: Forever Marshall Islands
Capital (largest city)	Majuro 7°7′N 171°4′E
Official languages	Marshallese, English
Government
- President	Kessai Note
Independence
- from the United States	October 21, 1986
Area
- Total	181 km² (213th) 69.8 sq mi
- Water (%)	negligible
Population
- July 2005 estimate	61,963 (205th)
- 2003 census	56,429
- Density	326/km² (28th) 846/sq mi
GDP (PPP)	2001 estimate
- Total	$115 million (220th)
- Per capita	$1,600 (2001 est.) (195th)
HDI  (n/a)	n/a (unranked) (n/a)
Currency	United States dollar (USD)
Time zone	(UTC+12)
Internet TLD	.mh
Calling code	+692

The Marshall Islands, officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), is a Micronesian island nation in the western Pacific Ocean, located north of Nauru and Kiribati, east of the Federated States of Micronesia and south of the U.S. territory of Wake Island.

In World War II, the United States liberated the islands (1944), and they were added to the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (including several more island groups in the South Sea). The Compact also provides for aid and US defense of the islands in exchange for continued US military use of the missile testing range at Kwajalein Atoll.

Administrative divisions

The Marshall Islands have no formal administrative division, but are divided into twenty-six legislative districts, which correspond to the inhabited islands and atolls of the country:

Ailinglaplap Atoll Ailuk Atoll Arno Atoll Aur Atoll Ebon Atoll Enewetak Atoll Jabat Island Jaluit Atoll Kili Island Kwajalein Atoll Lae Atoll Lib Island Likiep Atoll

Majuro Atoll Maloelap Atoll Mejit Island Mili Atoll Namorik (Namdrik) Atoll Namu Atoll Rongelap Atoll Ujae Atoll Ujelang Atoll Utirik (Utrik) Atoll Wotho Atoll Wotje Atoll

Geography

The country consists of twenty-nine atolls and five isolated islands. The most important atolls and islands form two groups: the Ratak Chain and the Ralik Chain (meaning "sunrise" and "sunset" chains).

The uninhabited atolls are:

Ailinginae Atoll Bikar (Bikaar) Atoll Bikini Atoll Bokak Atoll Erikub Atoll

Jemo Island Nadikdik (Knox) Atoll Rongerik Atoll Toke Atoll

The climate is hot and humid, with a wet season from May to November.

Not being among the 179 member countries of the ILO, Marshall Islands is among the handful of countries not obliged to abide by the core labour standards (elimination of forced labour, child labour and discrimination, and respect for freedom of association and right to collective bargaining) as required of ILO members.

Mexican Fishermen

In October of 2005, Mexican fishermen got lost at sea and a Taiwanese boat found them alive 11 months later, close to the Marshall Islands where they set foot on solid ground again on August 9 of 2006.