Pohnpei State

Pohnpei is a large state.

It sits in the Pacific Ocean. It is part of a group called Micronesia.

The main island is a big volcano. It has many tall mountains. Most of the land is very green.

There are also thick forests and many swamps.

A coral reef goes around the coast. The water is near many small islands. Some of these islands are very low.

Kolonia is the capital city. It is near a place called Palikir. People can see old ruins there. These ruins are from a long time ago.

It is a warm and lush place. You would see many trees there.

Pohnpei is a large state in the Pacific Ocean.

It is part of the Federated States of Micronesia. The state is the biggest one in that group. Its capital city is Kolonia.

The main island is a volcano. It has many rugged mountains. Most of the land is green and lush. A thick rainforest grows there. You can also find mangrove swamps near the shore. The island is shaped like a circle. A coral reef sits around the coast.

Pohnpei has many outer islands. Some are low islands like Ant Atoll.

Others are very small.

Many groups have ruled Pohnpei over time. The Spanish were there a long time ago. They built a city called Santiago de la Ascensión. This became the place we call Kolonia today. People can still see the Spanish Wall.

There are also old ruins from a Micronesian civilization. These are at a place called Nan Madol.

Pohnpei State is a large and beautiful place in the Pacific Ocean.

It sits near the eastern end of the Caroline Islands. This state is part of the Federated States of Micronesia. It is the largest of the four states in that group. The capital city is called Kolonia.

Pohnpei is located about halfway between Manila and Honolulu. It is a special place with a very long history.

The main island of Pohnpei was made by a volcano. Because of this, the land is rugged and has many mountains. The highest peak is very tall. Most of the island is green, lush, and thick with rainforest.

You can find mangrove swamps along much of the low shore. The island is shaped like a circle. A coral reef grows all around the coast. There are also many outer islands. Some are low islands like Ant Atoll.

These include places like Pingelap, Mokil, and Kapingamarangi.

Many different groups have ruled Pohnpei over many years. Long ago, a Micronesian civilization lived there. They left behind historic ruins, like the ones at Nan Madol. Later, Spanish explorers visited the area. The Spanish built a city called Santiago de la Ascensión. This city eventually became known as Kolonia. You can still see the remains of a fort called the Spanish Wall. After Spain, Germany took control of the island. Then, Japan ruled Pohnpei from 1914 until 1945.

During World War II, the islands were part of a group called the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. The United States managed the area after the war ended. In 1985, the Federated States of Micronesia gained full independence. Today, Pohnpei is a democratic federation. This means it has its own leaders and its own power. The state is led by a governor. It also has a group of lawmakers called a legislature.

Pohnpei is a place where history and nature meet. You can see old churches from the 1930s. You can also see how the land changes from high mountains to low islands. The people live in different areas called municipalities. Some areas, like Pohnpei Proper, have many people. Other areas, like the outer islands, have much smaller groups of people. It is a land of many different stories and many different sights.

Pohnpei State is a major part of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). It is one of four federal states in this nation. Pohnpei is the largest state in the FSM by land area. The capital of the state is Kolonia.

The state is located in the Pacific Ocean. It sits near the eastern end of the Caroline Islands. Geographically, it is located roughly midway between Honolulu and Manila.

The geography of Pohnpei is divided into two main types of land. The main Pohnpei Island is a volcanic island. Because it was formed by volcanoes, the land is rugged and mountainous. Most of the island is lush, green, and covered in dense rainforest. The highest peak on the island is very tall. The coast is roughly circular and is surrounded by a coral reef. You can find mangrove swamps along much of the low shore.

In contrast, the outer islands are low islands. These include Pingelap, Mokil, Ant, Pakin, Ngatik, Nukuoro, Oroluk, and Kapingamarangi. The Minto Reef is also part of this group, though it is largely submerged.

The history of Pohnpei is divided into several distinct stages. Long before Europeans arrived, a Micronesian civilization lived there. This pre-colonial history has three specific periods. The first is Mwehin Kawa, or Mwehin Aramas, which lasted until 1100. The second is Mwehin Sau Deleur, from 1100 to 1628. The third is Mwehin Nahnmwarki, from 1628 to 1885. This era left behind historic ruins, such as the famous Nan Madol.

European contact began with the Spanish in the 1500s. Toribio Alonso de Salazar visited the Caroline Islands in 1526. Pedro Fernández de Quirós was the first European to sight Pohnpei in 1595. He commanded the ship San Gerónimo, but he never actually landed. Later, the Spanish established a presence on the island. They named it Ponapé and built the city of Santiago de la Ascensión. This city was the first capital and eventually became known as Kolonia.

You can still see the remains of Fort Alfonso XIII, which is called the "Spanish Wall."

Spanish rule was often difficult and faced many challenges. In 1885, a new expedition arrived to occupy the archipelago. The Spanish chose Pohnpei to be the seat of government for the Carolinas. This was because the island could help patrol 2,000,000 square kilometers of ocean. However, the colony was not very profitable. The distance from markets and the cost of maintenance were high. In 1887, an uprising by indigenous people killed the entire Spanish colony. A second expedition led by Commander Diaz Varela had to rebuild the settlement. They built a fort to establish authority after the conflict.

Control of the island changed hands several times in the 20th century. Following the Spanish-American War in 1898, Germany bought the island from Spain. Under German rule, the colony was officially named Kolonia. Japan occupied the island during World War I. Afterward, the League of Nations gave the Carolinas to Japanese administration. This included the Marshall and Mariana Islands. Japanese sovereignty lasted from 1914 until 1945. During World War II, the islands were part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. American warships, including the USS Massachusetts and USS Iowa, conducted bombardments in the area.

Today, Pohnpei is a democratic federation within the FSM. It gained full independence in 1985. The state is led by a governor, who serves as the chief executive. There is also a unicameral legislature, which is a single house of lawmakers. The population is spread across various municipalities. According to the 2010 Census, Pohnpei Proper has 34,789 people. Other areas like Nett, Sokehs, and Kitti also have significant populations. The outer islands have much smaller populations, such as Mwoakilloa with only 183 people.