|RNational holiday:|N The Kings Birthday, July 4, and Constitution Day, November 4.
|RNature and climate:|N 172 islands in southern Pacific Ocean of which 36 are permanently inhabited. The archipelago consists of two almost parallel chains of islands, the western chain consists of volcanic islands with many still active volcanoes, and the eastern chain of low coral islands. The highest peak, on the volcanic island Kao, reaches 1030 m.a.s.l.
East of the Tonga islands is the Tonga grave which in its deepest place reaches 10 883 metres below sea level.
The islands are covered by lush tropical forests.
Climate is tropical-oceanic with an average temperature between 21 and 26°C.
Percipitation 2000 mm.
|RPeople:|N Polynesians.
|REconomy:|N About 70% of the labour force is occupied in agriculture and the most important crops are coconuts, bananas, vanilla, cacao, coffee, ginger and pepper.
There is some processing of coconutoil and copra for export.
Fishing and tourism gives big revenues, as do the money sent home by Tongans working abroad.
|RHistory:|N The archipelago was populated about 3000 years ago and a socially developed society was early developed. In the 13th century the kings of Tonga dominated Polynesia.
The islands were visited by Abel Tasman in 1643 and in 1773 by James Cook who gave them the name friendly Islands.
British missionaries arrived in 1797 and British influence increased, but in 1886 the European powers proclaimed Tonga a neutral area. Nevertheless it was made a British protectorate in 1900.
Internal self-rule in 1968 and a fully independent country in 1970.
