|  Fiji is an independent country lying on the border between the Polynesian and Melanesian regions of the Pacific. Fiji is the most populous Pacific island country and hosts a number of regional and international organizations. Its capital, Suva, is four and a half hours flying time north-east of Sydney.
Once known as the Cannibal Isles, because of its ferocious natives, the South Pacific nation of Fiji is comprised of 322 islands. About 100 are inhabited, while the balance remain nature preserves. First settled by Polynesians, the Fiji islands were discovered in 1643 by Abel Tasman, a Dutch explorer. In 1774, even Captain Cook anchored here, but it was Captain William Bligh of (Mutiny on the Bounty) fame that finally made them famous. In 1874 Fiji became a British Colony. It gained its independence in 1970, after nearly a century of British control. The majority of Fiji is mountainous (volcanic in origin) with several peaks exceeding 3000 ft. The balance of the smaller islands are a mixture of coral and limestone. Barrier reefs ring most islands. Tourism dollars are Fiji's main source of income, followed by the sugar and garment industries. It's also rich in gold, coconut oil, seafood and lumber. |