Micronesia Country & Tourist Information

Location
Western Pacific Ocean.

Area
Kosrae (five islands) – 110 sq km (42 sq miles); Pohnpei (163 islands) – 344 sq km (133 sq miles); Chuuk (formerly Truk) (294 islands) – 127 sq km (49 sq miles); Yap (145 islands) – 119 sq km (46 sq miles). Total: 702 sq km (270.8 sq miles).

Population
108,105 (2005).

Population Density
156 per sq km.

Capital
Palikir (Pohnpei).
Population: 35,000 (2005).

Government


Government

Federal Republic since 1980. Gained self-governing status (in free association with the USA) in 1986. Head of State and Government: President Joseph J. Urusemal since 2003.

Language
English; Micronesian languages, including Chuukese, Kosrean, Pohnpian and Yapese, are widely spoken.

Religion
Mostly Roman Catholic (50 per cent), Protestant (47 per cent) and other Christian denominations (3 per cent).

Time
Owing to the vast area covered by the islands, Micronesia spans two time zones:
Chuuk and Yap: GMT + 10.
Kosrae and Pohnpei: GMT + 11.

Electricity
120 volts AC, 60Hz. Plugs are of the round two pin type.

Telephone
Country code: 691.

Internet
Internet services are available.

Post
The US postal service picks up and delivers all mail to each of the states via air service. The Federated States of Micronesia are part of the US zip code system. Codes are: Pohnpei: 96941; Chuuk: 96942; Yap: 96943; and Kosrae: 96944. Rates are the same as the US. Express delivery is provided by a variety of private carriers. Post offices are located in Kolonia for Pohnpei, Moen for Chuuk, Lelu for Kosrae and Colonia for Yap.

Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1630. Closed on the weekends.

Press
• Pacific Daily News (Guam) is the main English-language newspaper in the Federated States of Micronesia.
• The Island Tribune is printed twice weekly.

Radio
• Stations include V6AH (Pohnpei), V6AI (Yap), V6AJ (Kosrae), V6AK (Chuuk) and Baptist church-run station V6A.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
11 Jan* Kosrae Constitution Day.
18 Jan* Lelu Memorial Day (Kosrae).
1 Mar* Yap Day.
31 Mar* Pohnpei Culture Day.
6 Apr Good Friday.
10 May Constitution (Federated States of Micronesia) Day.
1 Jun* Tree Planting Day (Yap).
6 Jun* Malem Memorial Day (Kosrae).
20 Jul* Utwe Memorial Day (Kosrae).
8 Sep* Kosrae Liberation Day.
11 Sep* Pohnpei Liberation Day.
23 Sep* Chuuk Liberation Day.
1 Oct* Chuuk Constitution Day.
24 Oct United Nations Day.
3 Nov Independence (Federated States of Micronesia) Day.
8 Nov* Pohnpei Constitution Day.
11 Nov Veterans of Foreign War Day (Pohnpei).
15 Nov* Kosrae State Fair.
29 Nov Thanksgiving (Kosrae and Chuuk).
24 Dec* Yap Constitution Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
11 Jan* Kosrae Constitution Day.
18 Jan* Lelu Memorial Day (Kosrae).
1 Mar* Yap Day.
31 Mar* Pohnpei Culture Day. 
21 Mar Good Friday.
10 May Constitution (Federated States of Micronesia) Day.
1 Jun* Tree Planting Day (Yap).
6 Jun* Malem Memorial Day (Kosrae).
20 Jul* Utwe Memorial Day (Kosrae).
8 Sep* Kosrae Liberation Day.
11 Sep* Pohnpei Liberation Day.
23 Sep* Chuuk Liberation Day.
1 Oct* Chuuk Constitution Day.
24 Oct United Nations Day.
3 Nov Independence (Federated States of Micronesia) Day.
8 Nov* Pohnpei Constitution Day.
11 Nov Veterans of Foreign War Day (Pohnpei).
20 Nov* Kosrae State Fair.
27 Nov Thanksgiving (Kosrae and Chuuk).
24 Dec* Yap Constitution Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

Note
Variations occur from island to island. Holidays unique to each state (Pohnpei, Kosrae, Yap, Chuuk) are indicated above.

Contact Information:

FSM Visitors Board
FSM National Government, PO Box PS-12, Palikir, Pohnpei FSM 96941
Tel: 320 5133.
Website: www.visit-fsm.org

Embassy of the Federated States of Micronesia in the USA
1725 N Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA
Tel: (202) 223 4383.
E-mail: fsm@fsmembassy.org or fsmamb@aol.com


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