The Federated States of Micronesia are located on the Caroline Islands in the western Pacific Ocean. The history of the modern Federated States of Micronesia is one of settlement by Micronesians; colonization by Spain, Germany, and Japan; United Nations trusteeship under United States-administered Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; and gradual independence beginning with the ratification of a sovereign constitution in 1979.
The Izu Islands are a group of volcanic islands stretching south and east from the Izu Peninsula of Honshū, Japan. Administratively, they form two towns and six villages; all part of Tokyo Prefecture. The largest is Izu Ōshima, usually called simply Ōshima.
A rai stone, or fei stone, is one of many large artifacts that were manufactured and treasured by the native inhabitants of the Yap islands in Micronesia. They are also known as Yapese stone money or similar names.
The traditional music of the Federated States of Micronesia varies widely across the four states, and has, in recent times, evolved into popular music influenced by Europop, country music and reggae.
Yap State is one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia, located in the westernmost portion of the country. The state borders Palau to the southwest, Guam to the north, and Chuuk State to the east. According to the state's population census carried out in 2020, the total population is 11,577 residing across a total area of 119.54 sq km, though a large majority of the area is water. The only town area in the state, Colonia, serves as the state capital.
Colonia is an urban area between the municipalities of Rull and Weloy which serves as the capital of Yap State, one of the states in the Federated States of Micronesia. It’s not to be confused with Kolonia, the capital of Pohnpei State. It administers both Yap proper and some 13 atolls and islands reaching to the east and south for some 800 kilometers.
Yap Sports Complex is located in Abay, Gagil, Yap State, Federated States of Micronesia. It is the national stadium and the home of Yap sporting events. The stadium's capacity is around 2,000, and it was built in 2001—in time for the 3rd FSM Games. In 2018, it was renovated and extended in time for the 9th Micronesian Games hosted by Yap State for the very first time. Association football club Nimgil, champions of Micronesia after defeating Weloy in 2021, use the venue for games.
Rull is a municipality in the southern part of the island Yap, Federated States of Micronesia. It has a traditional dancing ground. Rull has a population of 1,847. The historic Rull Men's Meetinghouse is located within the town.
Yap traditionally refers to an island group located in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean, a part of Yap State. The name "Yap" in recent years has come to also refer to the state within the Federated States of Micronesia, inclusive of the Yap Main Islands and its various outer islands, the Yap Neighboring Islands. For specifying the island group, the name Yap Main Islands is most exact.
Dalipebinau is a village and municipality in the state of Yap, Federated States of Micronesia. It lies on the west side of the Yap island, north of Yap International Airport.
Fanif is a municipality in the state of Yap, Federated States of Micronesia. Fanif encompasses the northwesternmost part of the main island and is the location of Yap proper's highest point, Mount Taabiywol, at 178 meters/584. Gilfith is the head village of Fanif. Fanif straddles the northern part of the main Island of Yap and includes the villages of Yyin, Quayrech, Ruunuw, Wuluuq, Malawaay, Rumuuq, Qatliw, and Raeng. It has two elementary schools, Fanif and North Fanif. A paved road runs through the villages along the northwest coast of Fanif into Weloy to the South and connecting into the Tomil - Colonia Road to the Northeast. The west coast is also accessible by boat from Colonia via the Tagireeng Canal.
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Gagil is a municipality in the state of Yap. It forms part of Gagil-Tamil Island and covers the eastern side of the island. It has a population of roughly 400 people scattered in village groups. One of these villages includes the village of Gachpar which was once the capital of the historic Yap Islands Empire that lasted from about 10th to the 15th century AD and stretched as far as east as the west halls of Chuuk Lagoon, as far south as the northern atolls of Papua New Guinea, and as far west as the outer islands of Palau. The Yap Islands Empire centered in Gagil and it, and the Tui Tonga Empire of Tonga, are the only empires that existed in the ancient history of the Pacific Islands.
Kanifay is a village and municipality in the state of Yap, Federated States of Micronesia.
Weloy is a village and municipality in the state of Yap, Federated States of Micronesia.
Maap is an island and village and municipality in the state of Yap, Federated States of Micronesia. It lies on the north east of the archipelago of Yap.
Gilman is a village and municipality in the state of Yap, Federated States of Micronesia. It lies on the south side of the Yap island. Six villages or hamlets are integrated there : Anoth, Gachlaw, Guror, Magchagil, Thabeth and Towoway. The population was 252 in 2010.
The Yapese people are a Micronesian ethnic group native to the main island of Yap. Yapese culture is built on the maxim: Respect and Responsibility. Aspects of traditional Yapese culture are still important in modern Yapese culture.
Francis Nuuan was a Micronesian educator and politician. He served as a member of the Senate of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands between 1965 and 1969.
The Yapese Empire was an ancient maritime empire located in the western Caroline Islands in the north Pacific region of Micronesia since around the 9th century, AD. In circa 950 AD, Yap became the seat of the Empire when Gatcheper Village in the chiefdom of Gagil established an expansive maritime trade network and exerted socio-economic and political influence to its neighbouring islands to the east. Although small and informal compared to other marine empires, the Empire at its peak covered over 1,300 kilometres, stretching from the Yap main islands to parts of modern-day Chuuk State. The Empire coexisted with the Tongan Empire located in the southern Pacific.
The traditional councils of the Yap State are two assemblies of traditional leaders: the Pilung Council for the chiefs of the Yap Islands and the Tamol Council for the chiefs of the Outer Yap Islands. They have been established in 1992 by the Constitution of the Yap State, within the Federated States of Micronesia. The executive, the legislative, the judiciary and the traditional councils are the four institutional branches of government in the Yap State, but the councils, unlike the others, transcend the concept of the separation of powers. The councils are responsible for exercising the functions that relate to tradition and custom, which are not required to be recorded in the written law. In the Yap State, custom and tradition prevail over any interpretation of the constitution and even over any judicial decision. The councils have the right to veto legislation that they consider to be contrary to traditional practices. The constitutionality of these councils and their veto power could be challenged under the Micronesian Federal Constitutional Law, but to this date no one has done it.
