Pohnpei State

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.