The Pacific Realm:
REGIONS

The Pacific realm can be divided into three regions based on cultural, ethnic, and physical characteristics: Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.

Melanesia includes West Irian (part of Indonesia), Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fiji.  Micronesia includes Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Northern Marina Islands, Republic of Marshall Islands and Guam, Nauru, Western Kiribati.  Polynesia includes the Hawaiian Islands, Western Samoa, American Samoa, Tuvalu, Tonga, Eastern Kiribati, Cook and other New Zealand administered islands, French Polynesia, and Easter Island. Some geographers may also include New Zealand, but New Zealand is significantly more European than the other areas of Polynesia.

Students should be able to LOCATE and DESCRIBE each of these regions.

• OPTIONAL: For more information see:
  • lonelyplanet.com:
  • Fiji
  • Federated States of Micronesia
  • Guam
  • French Polynesia