Micronesian Region

Home

The Paintings of Liza's Reef

Hope For The Rain Forests

Lee James Pantas

Who Liza's Reef Is Helping

Reef Store

Site Map

Crisis Overview
Solutions
Global Warming
Coral Reefs
Islands of the South Pacific
Endangered Oceanic Species
Endangered Oceanic Habitats
Quotes About The Oceans
Poetry About The Oceans
Aquariums
Diving Websites
Colleges and Universities
Teacher Resources
Just For Kids

Google Earth
Download this free program to
find any island in the world.

Micronesia is a region of Oceania that consists of many hundreds of small islands spread over a large region of the western Pacific. The term "Micronesia" was first proposed to distinguish the region in 1831 by Jules Dumont d'Urville; before this the term "Polynesia" was in use to generally describe the islands of the Pacific. Politically, Micronesia is divided into eight territories: the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the republic of Palau, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of Nauru, the Republic of Kiribati, the Territory of Guam, and the Territory of Wake Island

Much of the area was to come under European domination quite early. Guam, the Northern Marianas and the Caroline Islands (which would later before the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau) were colonized early on by the Spanish. Full European expansion did not come however, until the late 19th century, when the area would be divided between the United States, Germany and the British Empire. Today all of Micronesia (with the exception of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and Wake Island, which are U.S. Territories) are independent states.