Chuuk
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Chuuk is an island group that comprises one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), along with Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap. It is the largest of the FSM's states by population. It lies in the Western Pacific Ocean approximately 1000 kilometres southeast of Guam. Chuuk means mountain in the Chuukese language and was known mainly by its German mispronunciation, Truk, until 1990.
The main population center of Chuuk State is the Chuuk Lagoon, a large archipelago with mountainous islands surrounded by a string of islets on a barrier reef. The two major geographical and dialectic divisions of the Chuuk Lagoon are Faichuuk, the western islands, and Namoneas, the eastern islands. Chuuk State also includes several more sparsely populated "outer island" groups, including the Mortlock Islands to the southeast, the Hall Islands to the north, Namenweitos to the northwest, and the Pattiw Region to west. The Pattiw Region are of particular interest in that they are some of the most traditional islands in the Pacific and culturally related to outer islands of Yap. Today you can still find master navigators— Poluwat is considered to have the best navigators—and ocean-going outrigger canoes. Visiting the Pattiw Region in the west, however, is hard due to lack of reliable transportation. Hauk has probably the most accessible airstrip in the Pattiw Region, with planes landing every one or two weeks.
Most of the roads and transportation systems are poor or in disrepair. There is a small international airport on the administrative island of Weno. The airport (IATA airport code TKK) is served by Continental Micronesia, a division of Continental Airlines. The government of the state operates a radio station. Interisland communication is often accomplished using citizens' band radio. Telephone services are limited on Chuuk. During World War II, Truk Lagoon was the Empire of Japan's main base in the South Pacific. A significant portion of the Japanese fleet was based there, with its administrative center on Tonoas (south of Weno). Truk was the base for Japanese operations against Allied forces in New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
Operation Hailstone, executed by the United States in 1944, culminated in one of the most important naval battles of the war at Truk. Twelve Japanese warships, thirty-two merchant ships and 249 aircraft were destroyed, although the larger ships had received advance warning and were already at sea.
Chuuk was one of six districts of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands which were administered by the United States under charter from the United Nations from the end of the Second World War to the early 1990's.
The New York Province of the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits, maintains a mission school on the island of Weno in Chuuk. Xavier High School is housed at the former Japanese communications center. It is a coeduational institution, drawing students from the all island groups of the Federated States of Micronesia, as well as the Republic of Pelau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Teachers are both Jesuit and lay and come from the Micronesia, U.S., Indonesia, Japan, and Australia. All lay teachers are volunteers. It is commonly regarded at the best high school in Micronesia.
Tourism, especially scuba diving among the many wrecks of Truk Lagoon, is the island's main industry. Copra, (dried coconut meat) is the only cash crop but is of insignificant importance. Most of the inhabited outlying islands engage in subsistence activity only.
On July 2, 2002, heavy rains from Tropical Storm Chataan caused more than 30 landslides that killed 47 people and injured dozens others, in the state's deadliest weather disaster. The landslides occurred throughout the day, some within just minutes of each other.
The United States Peace Corps also maintains a presence on Chuuk.
History
It is not known when the islands of Chuuk were first settled, but based on archeological evidence these islands had originally been settled more than 2000 years ago. It is not known with certainty where the original inhabitants came from. Based on Archeological evidence it seems that after about 200 AD there was no continuous settlement until about 1300 AD; with further archeological work, it is possible this gap could be filled in. Where the people originally came from is still in dispute. It is probable that people came from Pohnpei and Kosrae to the east, based on many legend and language similarites. In addition many legends also point to people from Yap coming to these islands. This is further supported by fact that Chuuk was at one time part of a vast trading network that included Yap.
Gallery
External links
- [myMicronesia/Chuuk section]
- [Chuuk (Truk) Visitors Center]
- [Jane's Chuuk Page]
- [Xavier High School]
- [New York Province of the Society of Jesus]
- [The Micronesian Seminar]
| Federated States of Micronesia |
| |
|---|---|---|
| Chuuk | Kosrae | Pohnpei | Yap | ||
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