Fiji is located in the Southwest Pacific Ocean, south of the Equator and north of the Tropic of Capricorn. It lies between 15 degrees and 22 degrees South Latitude and 177 degrees East and 178 degrees West Longitude, spanning the 180th Meridian.
The Fiji archipelago has more than 330 islands scattered across 230,000 square kilometres. Only about 100 of the largest islands are inhabited. The remainder are small "desert" islands without fresh water. The two largest islands, Vitu Levu and northern Vanua Levu (distinct from the smaller Sacred Island Vanua Levu) make up 85% of the total land mass. The largest island, Vitu Levu, is 4,010 sq miles, whilst the smallest island, Vatuira, is only 0.008 sq miles.
Approximately 3,500 years ago, the first people landed in Fiji. Archaeological and ethnographic evidence suggests these groups originated from regions within the Southeast Asian archipelago. A style of pottery known as Lapita has been found along the migration route from Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands. It is believed Melanesians arrived first and settled along the coastal areas of western Fiji. The Micronesians followed soon after and settled the northern coastal areas. They initially relied on fishing, hunting and gathering for survival, and evidence seems to suggest that they lived in relative peace.
Around 2,500 years ago (1,000 years later) there was a shift towards agriculture, which in turn created a natural expansion in population due to the increasing availability of food. However the population growth also led to an increase in fighting between tribes over arable land areas. The practice of cannibalism also became more common. 1,000 years ago, the Tongans and Samoans began an invasion of Fiji’s eastern provinces, promoting larger and more organised forms of warfare. The Fijians soon became known as formidable warriors.
In the 19th Century Europeans began to arrive in numbers and exploited the islands’ trade in Sandalwood and Sea Cumbers. The introduction of Christianity in the 1840’s had a major effect on the Fijian culture and ended the practice of cannibalism. The Tui-Viti (King of Fiji) Ratu Cakobau was converted to Christianity in 1854 and the Methodist missionaries considered this a major triumph.
In
1874 Fiji became a British colony and over the next 40 years, over 40,000 Indians were brought into the country to work the sugar plantations established on the main island. On the 10th October 1970 Fiji became an independent country and on the 7th October 1987 Fiji declared itself a republic.
Today the population of Fiji is approximately 800,000 - 50% native Fijians, 45% Indo-Fijians and 5% European, Chinese and other islanders. The Fijian lifestyle is a relaxed combination of traditional culture and a strong belief in the family and community. The people are modest with irresistible friendly warmth, and the biggest smiles in all of the Pacific.
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