Where is Chuuk?
If you were to look at a world map, you would find the Chuuk Islands approximately halfway between Hawaii and the Philippines. Chuuk is one of the many island groups within Micronesia, a vast region in the Western Pacific Ocean. It's staggering (and fascinating) to learn there are more than 2,000 islands, atolls and islets in Micronesia!
There are three divisions/regions in the Pacific Ocean Realm: Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.
-Polynesia includes the Hawaiian Islands, Samoa, Fiji, Tahiti and Tuvalu.
-Melanesia claims the larger islands such as New Guinea and New Zealand.
-Micronesia is a bit less known. Let's face it...the name itself gives us the first clue: Micronesia means "small islands".
Check out this list below and see if you recognize any of these Micronesian islands:
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Marshall Islands (RMI): Includes Kwajelein, Majuro, Ebeye, Enewetak and more
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Republic of Nauru
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Gilbert Islands: Kiribati
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Mariana Islands (US Trust Territory): Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), including Saipan, Tinian, Rota and more
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Caroline Islands: Republic of Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM): Chuuk, Pohnpeii, Kosrae and Yap State.
Micronesia is made up of 2,000+ islands, covers 270 square miles, has a coastline of 3,800 miles, and is scattered over 1 million square miles of the Pacific Ocean!
Chuuk is one of the many island groups within Micronesia. Located seven degrees north of the equator, Chuuk is a beautiful, tropical group of volcanic islands within a large barrier reef. Inside the reef (or lagoon), there are seventeen inhabited islands.
Islands of Chuuk
(Chuuk Lagoon)
The map below shows the open ocean surrounding the Chuuk Barrier Reef...and the Lagoon within. Within the Lagoon are 17 inhabited islands.
