Fiji FAQ's
Fiji FAQS and Fiji Facts
Map from LonelyPlanet.com
Fiji from Wikipedia: (Fijian: Matanitu ko Viti; Fiji Hindi: ?????), officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands (Fijian: Matanitu Tu-Vaka-i-koya ko Viti; Fiji Hindi: ????? ????? ???? ???????) is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about 2000 km northeast of New Zealand's North Island. Its more immediate neighbours are Vanuatu to the west, France's New Caledonia to the southwest, New Zealand's Kermadec to the southeast, Tonga to the east, the Samoas and France's Wallis and Futuna to the northeast and Tuvalu to the north. Fiji has had inhabitants since the second millennium B.C. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Dutch and the British explored Fiji.
Fiji was a British colony up until 1970; British occupation lasted almost a century. Because of the abundance of forest, mineral, and fish resources, Fiji is one of the most developed economies in the Pacific island realm. Today, the main sources of foreign exchange are its tourist industry and sugar exports.
The majority of Fiji's islands were formed through volcanic activity started around 150 million years ago. Today, some geothermal activity still occurs on the islands of Vanua Levu and Taveun. Fiji comprises an archipelago of more than 332 islands, of which 110 are permanently inhabited, and more than 500 islets, amounting to a total land area of ca. 18,300 km2. The two major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, account for 87% of the population of almost 850,000. The former contains Suva, the capital and biggest city. Most of Fijians live on Viti Levu's coasts, either in Suva or in smaller urban centers. Viti Levu's interior sparsely attracts inhabitants due to its terrain.
The climate in Fiji is tropical marine and warm most of the year round with minimal extremes. The warm season is from November till April and the cooler season May to October. Temperature in the cool season still averages 22 °C. Rainfall is variable, the warmer season experiences heavier rainfall, especially inland. Winds are moderate, though cyclones occur about once a year (10–12 times per decade).
Fiji's culture is a rich mosaic of indigenous, Indian, Chinese and European traditions, comprising social polity, language, food (based mainly from the sea, casava, dalo & other vegetables), costume, belief systems, architecture, arts, craft, music, dance and sports.
The indigenous culture is very much active and living, and is a part of everyday life for the majority of the population. However, it has evolved with the introduction of old cultures like the Indian and Chinese ones, as well as a large influence from Europe, and from various Pacific neighbours of Fiji, mainly the Tongan and Samoan. The culture of Fiji has created a unique communal and national identity.
Q & A
How many islands in Fiji are inhabited?
Of the 332 islands, approximately 110 are inhabited.
What is the capital city of the Fiji Islands?
Suva is the capital city and is located on the south east side of Viti Levu.
When did Fiji gain its Independance?
10 October 1970 (from the UK)
What is the currency in Fiji?
The country's currency is the Fijian dollar.
What are the offical languages of Fiji?
The are three official languages in Fiji; English, Fijian and Hidustani.
What is Fiji's main source of income?
Fiji is a very popular tourist destination thus making tourism the main income earner for the county, followed by the sugar industry.
What religions are practiced in Fiji?
Native Fijians are mostly Christians with most being Roman Catholic and Methodists. The local Indian Fijians are mostly Hindi or Muslim and the local Chinese also practice Buddhism. Christian 64.5% (Methodist 34.6%, Roman Catholic 9.1%, Assembly of God 5.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 3.9%, Anglican 0.8%, other 10.4%), Hindu 27.9%, Muslim 6.3%, Sikh 0.3%, other or unspecified 0.3%, none 0.7% (2007 census) - CIA, The World Factbook
What is the popluation of Fiji?
944,720 (July 2010 est.) - CIA, The World Factbook
Fijian 57.3% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indian 37.6%, Rotuman 1.2%, other 3.9% (European, other Pacific Islanders, Chinese) (2007 census)
What is Fiji's climate?
Tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
Whats the weather like in Fiji?
Fiji's summer is the wet season which is from November to April, with the heaviest rains falling between December and mid-April. Fiji's winter is the dry season is from May to October. Fiji's average temperature is about 25°C, however it can climb to above 30°C in summer (December and January) and sink to 18°C in winter (July and August).
What is the electricity voltage in Fiji?
Throughout Fiji it is 240 volts with AC/50 cycles.
How many TV and Radio stations are there?
Fiji TV, a publicly-traded company, operates a free-to-air channel as well as the Sky Fiji and Sky Pacific multi-channel pay-TV services; state-owned commercial company, Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, Ltd, operates 6 radio stations - 2 public broadcasters and 4 commercial broadcasters with multiple repeaters; 5 radio stations with repeaters operated by Communications Fiji, Ltd; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are available (2009) - CIA, The World Factbook
What time zone is Fiji located in?
GMT +12
What is Fiji's international dialing code?
The international country dialling code for the Fiji Islands is +679.
What is the emergency phone number in Fiji?
911 is the number called to contact the Fiji's Emergency services.
Is there Malaria in Fiji?
The Fijian Group of islands are free from malaria.
Are there poisonous land snakes in Fiji?
There are no poisonous snakes. There are some indigenous "harmless" snakes, however, but these now only exist on some outer islands as the introduction of the mongoose in the late 19th century to control rats in the sugar cane plantations on the main islands led to the devastation of land-dwelling birds, snakes and amphibious creatures.