CAROLINE ISLANDS

archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean, the islands of which comprise the Federated States of Micronesia (Kosrae , Pohnpei , Chuuk , and Yap) and Palau. The Carolines may be divided into two physiographic units: to the east, coral caps surmount mountains of volcanic origin; while to the west, the islands are sections of the Earth's crust that have been folded and pushed above the surface of the ocean. Both units have formations rising to elevations of more than 500 feet (150 m). The total land area is about 500 square miles (1,300 square km) and includes the islands of Yap, Pohnpei, Chuuk, Kosrae, Babelthuap [Babeldoab], and Ulithi. The climate is tropical, with mean monthly temperatures ranging from 79 to 83 F (26 to 28 C). Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year and generally exceeds 120 inches (3,050 mm) annually on populated islands. It may exceed 180 inches (4,570 mm) on the windward sides of high islands. In an average year more than 20 typhoons originate in the Carolines. The eastern Carolines were probably settled earlier than the 2nd century AD, and there is evidence indicating that Chinese trade goods had reached the western islands by the 7th century. Visited in the 16th century by Spanish navigators who named the islands for their king, Charles II, they were colonized by Spain only in the 19th century. Sold to Germany after the Spanish-American War (1898), in 1914 they were seized by Japan, who held them after 1919 as a League of Nations mandate. During World War II the islands, which had been heavily fortified by Japan, were occupied by the United States and became in 1947 part of a UN strategic trust territory under U.S. jurisdiction. After 1986 the trust territory included only the Republic of Palau, all other segments, including the Federated States of Micronesia, having adopted commonwealth status or a form of nationhood in close association with the United States. Copra is the chief export, with handicrafts second. Tourism has been encouraged. The high western islands were mined during Japanese occupation. Some islands support tuna fishing. Great diversity of physical types, cultures, and languages prevails within the Carolines, with the western islands exhibiting an intermingling of Melanesian and Philippine influences and the eastern showing Polynesian characteristics. Nukuoro and Kapingamarangi atolls represent western outliers of Polynesian culture. Pop. (1991 est.) 126,500.