Pots made in Fiji have been found in Samoa and even the Marquesas Islands. The population density at the time was 45.8 inhabitants per square kilometre. The first settlements in Fiji were started by voyaging traders and settlers from the west about 5000 years ago. 2. The British subjugated the islands as a colony in 1874, and the British brought over Indian contract labourers to work on the sugar plantations as the first governor of Fiji, Arthur Charles Hamilton-Gordon, adopted a policy disallowing the use of native labour or any interference in their culture or way of life. Europeans settled on the islands permanently beginning in the 19th century. 21. The capital, Suva on Viti Levu, serves as Fiji's principal port. In the 1880s large-scale cultivation of … Within the matangali are a number of smaller collectives, known as the mbito. It is an archipelago, or group of islands, having several hundred islands. The base of this mountain extends across 19 miles (30 km). 4. Fresh fruit is one of the best Fiji food for kids to eat on your holidays. A missionary named Thomas Baker became an unfortunate victim of Fijian cannibalism. Fiji shares marine boundaries with Vanuatu to the west, New Caledonia (France) to the southwest, Kermadec (New Zealand) to the southeast, Tonga to the east, American Samoa, Samoa and Wallis and Futuna (France) to the northeast and Tuvalu to the north. Fijian culture is a gift-giving culture. The swimming is spectacular, the fish are friendly, there are caves and jungles to explore, and there are enough mangroves and mud pools to satisfy every get-grubby urge. Fiji is a beautiful group of islands in Melanesia (a sub-region of Oceania which includes Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, Fiji and Papua New … Only 110 of them are inhabited and all of them are beautiful combinations of volcanic mountain ranges, rainforests, and gorgeous sandy beaches. The population is dominated by the 15–64 age segment. The Botanical Gardens of Thursten in Suva, Sigatoka Sand Dunes, and Colo-I-Suva Forest Park are three options on the mainland (Viti Levu). Fijian is an Austronesian language of the Malayo-Polynesian family spoken in Fiji. 22. 2. Fiji is a kids’ own adventure story writ large. It was replaced in 2012 with the new "Bole" (pronounced mBolay) war cry. Get Started. Read on to discover some interesting facts about Fiji. A remote island, split by a narrow, 57 m deep cleft in two parts. 2. Fiji is part of the Pacific Rim. Food gifts such as raw or cooked oxen, whole pigs and turtles are usually accompanied by non-food gifts like bark cloth, kava or valuable whale’s teeth. Vanuatu has 3 official … In 2009, Samoa announced their departure from the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, leaving just Fiji and Tonga in the union. Aspects of Fijian culture are similar to the Melanesian culture of the western Pacific but have a stronger connection to the older Polynesian cultures. There are about 80,000 registered players from a total population of around 900,000. The population of Fiji is mostly made up of native Fijians, who are Melanesians (54.3%), although many also have Polynesian ancestry, and Indo-Fijians (38.1%), descendants of Indian contract labourers brought to the islands by the British colonial powers in the 19th century. Fiji's territory is comprised of 332 islands although some sources have indicated that there are 333 islands. The most important islands are Vanua Levu and Viti Levu. The national football team defeated New Zealand 2–0 in the 2008 OFC Nations Cup, on their way to a joint-record third-place finish. In 2006 Commodore Frank Bainimarama led a military coup and took over the country. The concept of family and community is of great importance to Fijian culture. The International Date Line runs through Fiji’s island of Taveuni, where you can stand with one foot in today, and the other in yesterday or tomorrow! When Fiji’s first settlers arrived from the islands of Melanesia at least 3,500 years ago, they carried with them a wide range of food plants, the pig, and a style of pottery known as Lapita ware. For a country of its size, Fiji has fairly large armed forces, and has been a major contributor to UN peacekeeping missions in various parts of the world. Village groups own over 80 percent of Fiji’s land, which is called Native Land, and use it for their village site and as a nature reserve. The capital city of Fiji is Suva, and the city with the most people is Nadi. About three-quarters of Fijians live on Viti Levu's coasts, either in Suva or in smaller … It is an archipelago, or group of islands, having several hundred islands. Fiji, which had been inhabited since the second millennium B.C., was explored by the Dutch and the British in the 17th and 18th centuries. He has ruled Fiji without free elections … The repatriated salaries of its overseas stars have become an important part of some local economies. People live on only about 100 of the islands. Tourism is a mainstay of the Fiji economy, and Suva is a popular, remote cruise port. Within the indigenous (iTaukei) communities many members of the extended family will adopt particular titles and roles of direct guardians. Mt Fuji facts tell us that these lakes are around 1,000 ft above sea level and provide people visiting the area with the best vantage point from which to view Mount Fuji. For a cool few million you too can have your own slice of paradise. Cricket is a minor sport in Fiji. Fiji has 6 national parks. In general, Fiji is a mid-range priced holiday/vacation destination with most of the accommodations in this range. The Fiji Republic is actually not just one beautiful island but an archipelago of some 333 islands and over 500 islets. Fiji's culture is a rich mosaic of indigenous Fijian, Indo-Fijian, Asian and European traditions, comprising social polity, language, food (coming mainly from the sea, plus casava, dalo (taro) and other vegetables), costume, belief systems, architecture, arts, craft, music, dance, and sports. In the 1880s large-scale cultivation of sugarcane began. Meats such as chicken, pork and lamb as well as whole fish are wrapped in banana leaves and place on top to cook. Other sports played include rugby 7's, rugby league and football (soccer). Ratu Seru Epenisa Cakobau was a Fijian chief and warlord from the island of Bau, off the eastern coast of Viti Levu, who united part of Fiji's warring tribes under his leadership. For the larger islands, rainfall is heavier on the southeast portions of the islands than on the northwest portions, with consequences for agriculture in those areas. Fiji has a population of around nine hundred thousand (896,758) as of 2013. In 1992 Sitiveni Rabuka, the Lieutenant Colonel who had carried out the 1987 coup, became Prime Minister following elections held under the new constitution. Fiji is definitely in line for the most stunning place on Earth as well. /* sci facts 728 */ Lapita people is the original settlers of Fiji. There are 322 islands in Fiji and over 500 small islets. So as not to keep you in suspense any longer, following are 10 interesting facts about Fiji that you probably wouldn’t know unless you’ve already visited. Fijians are very friendly and hospitable people. Facts about tourism in Fiji… Pottery art from Fijian towns shows that Fiji was settled before or around 3500 to 1000 BC, although the question of Pacific migration still lingers. Villages are generally self-sustaining. Sugarcane is a delicious fruit. Oceania spreads over a vast area from 28 degrees … Indo-Fijians suffered reprisals for a period after the Fiji coup of 2000. Missionaries in the 1840s chose an Eastern dialect, the speech of Bau Island off the southeast coast of the main island of Viti Levu, to be the written standard of the Fijian language. Fiji has also won the Rugby World Cup Sevens twice — in 1997 and 2005. The Republic of Fiji is an archipelago of 332 islands in the continent of Oceania, … The second 1987 coup saw both the Fijian monarchy and the Governor General replaced by a non-executive president and the name of the country changed from Dominion of Fiji to Republic of Fiji and then in 1997 to Republic of the Fiji Islands. In 2005, the Qarase government amid much controversy proposed a Reconciliation and Unity Commission with power to recommend compensation for victims of the 2000 coup and amnesty for its perpetrators. This page was last modified on 27 January 2021, at 00:14. It is believed that the Lapita people or the ancestors of the Polynesians settled the islands first but not much is known of what became of them after the Melanesians arrived; they may have had some influence on the new culture, and archaeological evidence shows that they would have then moved on to Samoa, Tonga and even Hawai'i. One of the problems for Fiji is simply getting their players to play for their home country, as many have contracts in Europe with the French Top 14 and the English Aviva Premiership or with Super Rugby teams, where monetary compensation is far more rewarding. Fiji Facts for Kids Fiji is an island located in the southern corner of the Pacific Ocean. It consists of some 300 islands (about 100 of which are inhabited) and 540 islets. The islands are mountainous, with peaks up to 1,324 metres (4,341 ft), and covered with thick tropical forests. Other islands and island groups include Taveuni and Kadavu (the third and fourth largest islands, respectively), the Mamanuca Group (just off Nadi) and Yasawa Group, which are popular tourist destinations, the Lomaiviti Group, off Suva, and the remote Lau Group. Association football was traditionally a minor sport in Fiji, popular largely amongst the Indo-Fijian community, but with international funding from FIFA and sound local management over the past decade, the sport has grown in popularity in the wider Fijian community. Thus, the various cultures of Fiji have come together to create a unique multicultural national identity. The Fijian archipelago is a paradise for bird lovers, … They have a chief as their leader and each has a community center. ; Pawpaw or papayas … The first European settlers to Fiji were beachcombers, missionaries, whalers, and those engaged in the then booming sandalwood and bêche-de-mer trade. 1. People also love these ideas Gifting large quantities of food for a community ceremony is a long-standing tradition. Kinship is determined through a child's lineage to a particular spiritual leader, so that a clan is based on traditional customary ties as opposed to actual biological links. These include two international airports: Nadi international Airport, Fiji’s main international gateway, and Nausori Airport, Fiji’s domestic hub, and 13 outer island airports. Endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, Fiji is one of the most developed of the Pacific island economies, though still with a large subsistence sector. These clans, based on the spiritual leader, are known as a matangali. 50 Fantastic Facts about Fiji. With the exception of Rotuma, the Fiji group lies between 15° 42′ and 20° 02′ south. If, for example, war had been declared, Fijians would be sharpening their knives (and forks) in preparation of meeting their enemies. 1. Suva was made the capital of Fiji in 1877 when the Levuka settlement’s geography proved to be too restrictive. Fiji is one of the few countries where rugby union is the main sport. Fiji is the hub of the South West Pacific, midway between Vanuatu and Tonga. 2. The biggest island is Vitu Levu, and the smallest island actually only .02 kilometers and is a coral reef that barely sticks up out of the ocean. At the club level there are the Skipper Cup and Farebrother Trophy Challenge. 1. Apart from a large number of islands, Fiji also has at least 500 islets. Vanuatu is an island country located in the southern Pacific Ocean. Fiji’s main sources of foreign exchange are sugar exports and its thriving tourist industry, which along with its abundance of minerals, fish, and forests, gives it one of the most developed economies in the Pacific. Built on a peninsula with three side reaching out into the sea, Suva is Fiji’s second largest city by population. //-->. Fiji was a British colony for around 100 years when in 1970 it became an independent country. Through recent efforts by the national federation Basketball Fiji and with the support of the Australian government, many schools have been able to construct courts and provide their students with basketball equipment. The International Date Line runs through Fiji’s island of Taveuni, where you can stand with one foot in today, and the other in … Fiji is officially called the Republic of Fiji. Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates. 2. He has ruled Fiji without free elections since. Fiji is a very interesting South Pacific archipelago and there are many interesting Fiji facts for kids. The tourism sector recovered quickly, however, with visitor arrivals reaching pre-coup levels in 2002, resulting in a modest economic recovery which continued into 2003 and 2004 but grew by a mere 1.7% in 2005 and by 2.0% in 2006. Only one of his shoes … Qarase adamantly refused either to concede or resign, and on 5 December the president, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, was said to have signed a legal order dissolving the parliament after meeting with Bainimarama. Read our Australia Facts here. The national rugby union team has competed at five Rugby World Cup competitions, the first being in 1987, where they reached the quarter-finals. Fun Facts About Fiji For Kids Fiji Is Not Just One Island. And the Fijians – who famously adore children – have smiles and hugs for every little visitor. The southwestern Pacific island nation of Fiji was a crown colony of Great Britain for 96 years until it won independence in 1970. Fiji's culture was showcased at the World Exposition held in Vancouver, Canada, in 1986 and more recently at the Shanghai World Expo 2010, along with other Pacific countries in the Pacific Pavilion. 5 Fun Facts About Suva, Fiji. Winds are moderate, though cyclones occur about once a year (10–12 times per decade). Script error: The function "coordinsert" does not exist. The population in 1942 was approximately 210,000 of whom 94,000 were Indians, 102,000 native Fijians, 2,000 Chinese and 5,000 Europeans. Fiji Facts for Kids. With the exception of Rotuma, the Fiji group lies between 15° 42′ and 20° 02′ south. Uniforms are mandatory, and kids need shoes, books, stationery, school bags and sports gear. Fiji has 50 groups of hot springs and the innermost areas of many islands feature lush rainforests with an abundance of tree species, plants and wildlife. The British granted Fiji independence in 1970. Winston destroyed tens of thousands of homes across the island, killing 44 people and causing an estimated FJ$2 billion ($1 billion USD) in damage. While indigenous Fijian culture and traditions are very vibrant and are integral components of everyday life for the majority of Fiji's population, Fijian society has evolved over the past century with the introduction of traditions such as Indian and Chinese as well as significant influences from Europe and Fiji's Pacific neighbours, particularly Tonga and Samoa. The main official language of Fiji is Fijian. And the Fijians – who famously adore children – have smiles and hugs for every little visitor. The sport is governed by the Fiji Rugby Union which is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, and contributes to the Pacific Islanders rugby union team. Fiji, country and archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean. Fiji is in the tropics about 500 miles (800 kilometers) southwest of Samoa and 1,100 miles (1,800 kilometers) north of New … On 20 February 2016, Fiji was hit by the full force of Cyclone Winston, the only Category 5 tropical cyclone to make landfall in the nation. BULA everywhere! Fiji qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics men's tournament for the first time in history. The first of the lakes, Kawaguchiko is the one that is best suited for tourists as it offers the most amenities and things to do. Cricket Fiji is an associate member of the International Cricket Council ("ICC"). Fiji is set in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean, less than 4 hours flight east of Brisbane and Sydney. Under British rule, Indian servants were brought to Fiji to work in the sugarcane fields. The archipelago is located between 176° 53′ east and 178° 12′ west. Image: Coat of Arms Fiji Facts for Kids. Fiji gained independence from the British Empire in 1970 after 96 years as a British colony. Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates. Most of Fiji's islands … Fiji's history was one of settlement but also of mobility. The country is located some 1,750 kilometers (1,090 miles) east of northern Australia. It has 322 islands. Fiji is a small country in the Pacific Ocean.It has 322 islands.The most important islands are Vanua Levu and Viti Levu.The capital city of Fiji is Suva, and the city with the most people is Nadi.There are about 844,330 people in Fiji. 1. Fiji is made up of 333 islands, with 223 of them being uninhabited. Fiji is a kids’ own adventure story writ large. Sports are very popular in Fiji, particularly sports involving physical contact. The Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park is Fiji's first National Park and was established in 1987 to protect a unqiue natural and cutural heritage site. The national rugby union team is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance formerly along with Samoa and Tonga. Fiji is one of the most developed Pacific island nations and has a strong economy based on mineral extraction and agriculture. Oceania includes 14 countries: Australia, Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Members of the team are selected from a domestic Fijian competition, as well as from competitions held in New Zealand and Australia. This began the 2009 Fijian constitutional crisis. The official languages of Fiji are Fijian, English and Hindustani (a mix of Hindi and Urdu).Fiji … Fiji is the hub of the South West Pacific, midway between Vanuatu and Tonga. Relationships between ethnic Fijians and Indo-Fijians in the political arena have often been strained, and the tension between the two communities has dominated politics in the islands for the past generation. The highest point is Mount Tomanivi on Viti Levu. Native Fijians of Melanesian and Polynesian ancestry make up 54% of the population. It surrounds the Koro Sea about 1,300 miles (2,100 km) north of Auckland, New Zealand. google_ad_slot = "5655995158"; Be sure to check out their page here: https://www.gettyimages.com/ What do you know about Fiji? The warm season is from November to April and the cooler season lasts from May to October. For families, bespoke programs can be created to keep the kids energised and inspired through adventure, culture, and conservation activities around the Island. Modern Fijian cuisine is diverse with great influences from Indian cuisine and spices along with traditional local tropical fruits, vegetables, fish and wild pork. The descent is patrilineal, and all the status is derived from the father's side. google_ad_height = 600; Mar 25, 2019 - Fun Fiji Facts for Kids - Interesting Information about Fiji Now that you know some new fun facts about Fiji, you’re going to want to visit for sure. The level of political tension varies among different regions of the country. The Fiji national sevens side is a popular and successful international rugby sevens team and has won the Hong Kong Sevens a record eighteen times since its inception in 1976. The Fiji national rugby union sevens team is the reigning Sevens World Series Champions in World Rugby. Fiji is located in Oceania, south of the Pacific Ocean.It is a Melanesian island country that is officially known as the Republic of Fiji. Viti Levu hosts the capital city of Suva, and is home to nearly three-quarters of the population. Descendants of these Indian labourers are called Indo-Fijians and currently make up around 40% of the population. It also has a variety of world class five-star resorts and hotels. Fiji consists of 333 islands, about 110 of which are inhabited.