Micronesia

Abstract

Micronesia covers a large section of the earth’s surface, most of it water (Fig. 5.1). There are approximately 161 islands, atolls, or closely associated groups of islands, but they are so small that altogether they constitute less than 2600 km² of land (Douglas 1969). Stretching over 27° of latitude and 44° of longitude, Micronesia shows, as would be expected, great variation in climate and topography. The islands range from low coral atolls, through raised coral islands, a great variety of volcanic islands, to rare masses of metamorphic rock.