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=== General Information === | === General Information === | ||
Tonga - unique among Pacific nations - never completely lost its indigenous governance. The archipelagos of "The Friendly Islands" were united into a Polynesian kingdom in 1845. Tonga became a constitutional monarchy in 1875 and a British protectorate in 1900; it withdrew from the protectorate and joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1970. Tonga remains the only monarchy in the Pacific. [[Image:Tonga.png| | Tonga - unique among Pacific nations - never completely lost its indigenous governance. The archipelagos of "The Friendly Islands" were united into a Polynesian kingdom in 1845. Tonga became a constitutional monarchy in 1875 and a British protectorate in 1900; it withdrew from the protectorate and joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1970. Tonga remains the only monarchy in the Pacific. [[Image:Tonga.png|border|right|300px]] | ||
There are 170 islands in ''Tonga,'' of which 56 are inhabited. They are of coral or volcanic formation. The total land area is less than 300 square miles. About half of the land is cultivated, and the soil is very fertile. ''Tonga'' is divided into three island groups: ''Tongatapu group ''in the south, ''Ha`apai'' in the middle, and''Vava`u ''in the ''no''rth. ''Nukualofa'' is the capital, where the average temperature is 76 degrees and the humidity is 76 percent. Cyclones are possible from October to April, and the dry season is from June to November. | There are 170 islands in ''Tonga,'' of which 56 are inhabited. They are of coral or volcanic formation. The total land area is less than 300 square miles. About half of the land is cultivated, and the soil is very fertile. ''Tonga'' is divided into three island groups: ''Tongatapu group ''in the south, ''Ha`apai'' in the middle, and''Vava`u ''in the ''no''rth. ''Nukualofa'' is the capital, where the average temperature is 76 degrees and the humidity is 76 percent. Cyclones are possible from October to April, and the dry season is from June to November. | ||
The population is about 195,000. ''Nuku`alofa ''has about 35,000 inhabitants. Tonga has close ties with ''Great Britain'', and ''Tongan ''and ''English ''are both official languages. | The population is about 195,000. ''Nuku`alofa ''has about 35,000 inhabitants. Tonga has close ties with ''Great Britain'', and ''Tongan ''and ''English ''are both official languages. | ||
About 30 percent of the people belong to the Free Wesleyan Church, which is the official state church, and the king is the head of it. The LDS Church is the next largest. About 40 percent of all Tongans are members of the LDS Church. Many Tongans have emigrated to ''Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Alaska'', and the mainland of the ''USA.'' | About 30 percent of the people belong to the Free Wesleyan Church, which is the official state church, and the king is the head of it. The LDS Church is the next largest. About 40 percent of all Tongans are members of the LDS Church. Many Tongans have emigrated to ''Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Alaska'', and the mainland of the ''USA.'' | ||