Fiji (0)

Fiji covers a total area of some 194,000 square kilometres (75,000 sq mi) of which around 10% is land .
Fiji is the hub of the South West Pacific , midway between Vanuatu and the Kingdom of Tonga. The archipelago is located between 176° 53′ east and 178° 12′ west. The 180° meridian runs through Taveuni but the International Dateline is bent to give uniform time to all of the Fiji group. With the exception of Rotuma, the Fiji group lies between 15° 42′ and 20° 02′ south. Rotuma is located 400 kilometres north of the group, 670 km from Suva, 12° 30′ south of the equator.
Fiji consists of 322 islands (of which 106 are inhabited) and 522 smaller islets. The two most important islands are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. The islands are mountainous, with peaks up to 1,300 metres (4,250 ft), and covered with thick tropical forests . Viti Levu hosts the capital city of Suva, and is home to nearly three quarters of the population. Other important towns include Nadi (the location of the international airport), and the second city -Lautoka (the location of a large sugar mill and a seaport). The main towns on Vanua Levu are Labasa and Savusavu. Other islands and island groups include Taveuni and Kadavu (the third and fourth largest islands respectively), the Mamanuca Group (just outside Nadi) and Yasawa Group, which are popular tourist destinations, the Lomaiviti Group, outside of Suva, and the remote Lau Group. Rotuma, some 500 kilometres (310 mi) north of the archipelago, has a special administrative status in Fiji. Fiji's nearest neighbour is Tonga. The climate in Fiji is tropical and warm most of the year round .
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 neighbors of Fiji, mainly the Tongan,Rotuman and Samoan. The culture of Fiji has created a unique communal and national identity.
Politics of Fiji normally take place in the framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic , whereby the Prime Minister of Fiji is the head of government , the President the head of state, and of a multi -party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Parliament of Fiji.
Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral , and fish resources, is one of the more developed of the Pacific island economies , though still with a large subsistence sector . Natural resources include timber , fish, gold , copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower. Fiji experienced a period of rapid growth in the 1960s and 1970s but stagnated in the 1980s. The coup of 1987 caused further contraction. Economic liberalization in the years following the coup created a boom in the garment industry and a steady growth rate despite growing uncertainty of land tenure in the sugar industry. The expiration of leases for sugar cane farmers ( along with reduced farm and factory efficiency) has led to a decline in sugar production despite a subsidized price. Subsidies for sugar have been provided by the EU and Fiji has been the second largest beneficiary after Mauritius.
Urbanization and expansion in the service sector have contributed to recent GDP growth. Sugar exports and a rapidly growing tourist industry — with 430,800 tourists in 2003[24] and increasing in the subsequent years — are the major sources of foreign exchange . Fiji is highly dependent on tourism for revenue . Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity . Long- term problems include low investment and uncertain property rights . The political turmoil in Fiji has had a severe impact on the economy , which shrank by 2.8% in 2000 and grew by only 1% in 2001. The tourism sector recovered quickly, however, with visitor arrivals reaching pre-coup levels again during 2002, which has since resulted in a modest economic recovery . This recovery continued into 2003 and 2004 but grew by 1.7% in 2005 and grew by 2.0% in 2006. Although inflation is low, the policy indicator rate of the Reserve Bank of Fiji was raised by 1% to 3.25% in February 2006 due to fears of excessive consumption financed by debt . Lower interest rates have so far not produced greater investment for exports. However, there has been a housing boom from declining commercial mortgage rates. The tallest building in Fiji is the fourteen -storey Reserve Bank of Fiji Building in Suva, which was inaugurated in 1984. The Suva Central Commercial Centre , which opened in November 2005, was planned to outrank the Reserve Bank building at seventeen stories , but last-minute design changes made sure that the Reserve Bank building remains the tallest.
Trade with Fiji has been criticized due to the country 's military dictators
Fijians are known for their hospitality and friendliness - although this hasn't always been the case . A little over a century ago, the Fijian people were thought to be ferocious cannibals. Souvenir and craft shops on the islands offer four -pronged wooden forks for sale , reminding tourists of those days . One unfortunate victim of the cannibals was the missionary Thomas Baker , who was eaten with the exception of one of his shoes . Today , the uneaten shoe is on display in the Fiji Museum .
# The country was originally one of the most remote British colonies, and there are still some reminders of British colonial rule. Rugby and soccer - those most English of sports - are the two major competitive sports. Cricket and golf are also popular. Fiji hosted the Pacific Games in 2003, resulting in an increased interest in sports throughout the islands.
Fire walking is still popular in Fiji - although today it is practiced mainly to entertain the tourists, rather than for ceremonial or ritual reasons . Fijian legend has it that a god once gave a Beqa warrior the ability to walk unharmed on fire, in return for a favor . A legend, perhaps , but there's no doubt that the stones used in this ritual are as hot today as they were then.