Yap State

Yap State is one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). The other states are Kosrae State, Pohnpei State, and Chuuk State.

1886 Spanish nautical map, shows Olimaraos, Piagailoe (West Fayu), Pikelot, Elato, Lamotrek and Woleai islands
Yap State
State
Flag
Seal
Map of Yap State
Coordinates: 9°32′N 138°07′E
CountryFederated States of Micronesia
CapitalColonia
Government
 • GovernorHenry Falan
Area
 • Total119.54 km2 (46.15 sq mi)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total11,377
 • Density95/km2 (250/sq mi)
ISO 3166 codeFM-YAP
Websitewww.yapstategov.org

Colonia is the capital of Yap State, which administers both the Yap Main Islands and the island of Satawal, as well as fourteen atolls reaching to the east and south for some 800 km (500 mi), namely (municipalities in bold) Eauripik, Elato, Fais, Faraulep, Gaferut, Ifalik, Lamotrek, Ngulu, Olimarao, Piagailoe (West Fayu), Pikelot, Sorol, Ulithi, and Woleai. The outer islands and atolls reach to the east and south from the Yap Main Islands for some 800 km (500 mi (see map). Historically, a tributary system existed between the Neighboring Islands and the Yap Main Islands. This probably related to the need for goods from the high islands, including food, as well as wood for construction of seagoing vessels.

In 2000 the population of Colonia and ten other municipalities totalled 11,241. The state has a total land area of 102 km2 (39 sq mi).[1]

History

The islands were presumably populated by populations from Malay Archipelago. In 950 A.D. approximately it was the seat of the Micronesian Empire contemporary to the Tu'i Tonga Empire. The outer islands, now part of the Yap state, were settled from Polynesia.

The island nation became famous for stone money, huge stone disks that could be used as a means of payment until a few years ago. Since this stone money had to be made from a rock that could not be extracted on the island, the value is explained by the dangers taken on such an expedition (mostly to Palau).

The first Westerners to visit the island were the Portuguese in 1525 when the navigator Diego Da Rocha arrived in Ulithi and stayed there for four months.

The Caroline Islands were under Spanish rule from the 16th century until the end of the 19th century, but most of the communities on the islands of the present state of Yap have little contact with Europeans and live in complete independence. In 1885, following a conflict between Spain and Germany, the arbitration of Pope Leo XIII confirmed possession to Spain against commercial advantages for Germany. On June 30, 1899, after the Spanish-American War, Spain sold the Carolines, the Palau Islands and the majority of the Marianas to the German Empire. At the start of the First World War, in 1914, the Empire of Japan occupied the area. This occupation is legalized within the framework of the Mandate of the Pacific Islands created in 1919 by the League of Nations.

The Caroline Islands came under the control of the United States in 1944, which administered them as a Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands under a UN mandate received in 1947. On May 10, 1979, Yap ratified the Constitution of the Federated States of Micronesia and became an integral part of this new nation with official independence on November 3, 1986. The state was once the Yap District of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.

Geography

Yap State is the westernmost state of the FSM. To the east from near to far are Chuuk State, Pohnpei State, and Kosrae State.

A detailed map of Yap.

Languages

Yap State has five official languages: English, Ulithian, Woleaian, Satawalese and Yapese.[2]

Demographics

The 2000 population was 7,391.

Municipalities

Yap State is divided into municipalities.[3]

Falalp, Woleai Atoll

Yap Main Islands

Yap Neighboring Islands

Politics

The current governor of Yap is Henry Falan.[4]

Yap has a group of chiefs known as the Council of Pilung and the Council of Tamol, who regulate cultural issues.[5]

Climate
Climate data for Yap
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 33
(91)		 34
(93)		 34
(93)		 35
(95)		 35
(95)		 34
(94)		 34
(93)		 36
(96)		 34
(94)		 34
(94)		 34
(94)		 36
(96)		 36
(96)
Average high °C (°F) 30.1
(86.2)		 30.2
(86.4)		 31.1
(88.0)		 31.2
(88.2)		 30.9
(87.6)		 30.7
(87.3)		 30.6
(87.1)		 30.8
(87.4)		 30.9
(87.6)		 30.9
(87.6)		 30.4
(86.7)		 30.7
(87.3)		 30.7
(87.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 26.8
(80.2)		 26.9
(80.4)		 27.5
(81.5)		 27.6
(81.7)		 27.3
(81.1)		 27.1
(80.8)		 27.1
(80.8)		 27.1
(80.8)		 27.2
(81.0)		 27.3
(81.1)		 27.1
(80.8)		 27.2
(81.0)		 27.2
(81.0)
Average low °C (°F) 23.5
(74.3)		 23.5
(74.3)		 24.0
(75.2)		 24.1
(75.4)		 23.8
(74.8)		 23.6
(74.5)		 23.4
(74.1)		 23.4
(74.1)		 23.5
(74.3)		 23.7
(74.7)		 23.8
(74.8)		 23.7
(74.7)		 23.7
(74.7)
Record low °C (°F) 19
(67)		 19
(66)		 19
(66)		 19
(67)		 18
(65)		 19
(66)		 18
(65)		 19
(66)		 19
(66)		 17
(63)		 18
(65)		 17
(63)		 17
(63)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 186
(7.33)		 152
(5.98)		 151
(5.96)		 146
(5.76)		 230
(9.06)		 322
(12.69)		 369
(14.54)		 386
(15.20)		 343
(13.51)		 304
(11.97)		 230
(9.07)		 228
(8.99)		 3,050
(120.06)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 16.8 13.4 13.7 12.6 17.1 20.2 21.2 20.9 19.3 20.1 18.7 17.6 211.6
Average relative humidity (%) 82 81 80 79 81 83 84 84 84 84 83 83 82
Mean monthly sunshine hours 210.8 211.9 251.1 255.0 244.9 201.0 189.1 176.7 180.0 170.5 192.0 198.4 2,481.4
Source 1: Weatherbase[6]
Source 2: Hong Kong Observatory (sun, precipitation 1961–1990)[7]

Economy

Yap has a relatively small tourism industry, with the Yap Visitors Bureau reporting only 4,000 annual visitors from 2010 to 2017.[5] China's Exhibition & Travel Group has announced plans to develop a 4,000-unit resort on the island.[5]

Transportation
Yap International Airport

Yap International Airport receives service from United Airlines.

Education

Public schools:[8]

Private schools:

See also

References
  1. "FSM Population". Fsmgov.org. Archived from the original on 2012-06-29. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  2. "Yap, Federated States of Micronesia". Pacific Resources for Education and Learning. Retrieved 2006-10-24.
  3. Census 1987 with village population figures
  4. "Yap State Leaders 2019".
  5. Lin, Daniel (15 August 2017). "This Pacific Island Is Caught in a Global Power Struggle (And It's Not Guam)". 'National Geographic'.
  6. "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Yap, Federated States of Micronesia". Weatherbase. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  7. "Climatological Information for Yap, Pacific Islands, United States". Hong Kong Observatory. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  8. "Higher Education in the Federated States of Micronesia." Embassy of the Federated States of Micronesia Washington DC. Retrieved on 23 February 2018.
  9. "ABOUT YCHS." Yap Catholic High School. Retrieved on 22 February 2018.
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