Chuuk 230602 224882391 2008-07-10T20:49:08Z JeruGrandberry 7456386 [[Image:Flag of Chuuk.svg|thumb|250px|Flag of Chuuk]] [[Image:Chuuk.png|thumb|250px|Map of Chuuk State]] [[Image:Map Chuuk Islands1.png|thumb|250px|Map of Chuuk Islands]] [[Image:Chuuk islands (satellite).JPG|thumb|250px|Chuuk islands]] [[Image:Chuuk.jpg|thumb|250px|A view of Chuuk]] '''Chuuk''' &mdash; formerly '''Truk''', '''Ruk''', '''Hogoleu''', '''Torres''', '''Ugulat''', and '''Lugulus''' &mdash; is an island group in the south western part of the [[Pacific Ocean]]. It comprises one of the four states of the [[Federated States of Micronesia]] (FSM), along with [[Kosrae]], [[Pohnpei]], and [[Yap]]. Chuuk is the most populous of the FSM's states. Geographically, Chuuk is also part of the larger [[Caroline Islands]] group. Chuuk means ''mountain'' in the [[Chuukese language]] and was known mainly as Truk (a mispronunciation of Ruk), until 1990. ==Geography== The main population center of Chuuk State is the [[Truk Lagoon|Chuuk Lagoon]], a large archipelago with mountainous islands surrounded by a string of islets on a [[barrier reef]]. The two major geographical and dialectic divisions of the Chuuk Lagoon are Faichuuk, the western islands, and Namoneas, the eastern islands. Chuuk State also includes several more sparsely populated "outer island" groups, including the [[Satawan|Mortlock Islands]] to the southeast, the [[Hall Islands]] (Pafeng) to the north, [[Namonuito Atoll]] to the northwest, and the [[Pattiw]] Region to west. The Pattiw Region is of particular interest in that they are some of the most traditional islands in the Pacific and culturally related to outer islands of [[Yap]]. This group, includes the islands of [[Pollap]], [[Tamatam]], [[Poluwat]], and [[Houk]]. Today you can still find master navigators&mdash; Poluwat and Pollap are considered to have some of the best navigators and ocean-going [[outrigger canoe]]s in the Pacific. The islands of Pattiw Region and some of the Islands of Yap, you will still today find last two remaining schools of navigation, [[Weriyeng]] and [[Faaluush]]. Visiting the Pattiw Region in the west, however, is hard due to lack of reliable transportation. Houk has probably the most accessible airstrip in the Pattiw Region, with planes landing every one or two weeks. ==History== It is not known when the islands of Chuuk were first settled, but, based on archaeological and scriptural evidence, these islands had originally been settled more than 2000 years ago. It is not known with certainty where the original inhabitants came from. Based on archaeological evidence, it seems that, after about 200 CE, there was no continuous settlement until about 1300 CE. With further archaeological work, it is possible this gap could be filled in. However, because Chuuk is not high on the archaeological agenda (See [[List of archaeological sites sorted by country]]), it is improbable that such a developed study will begin soon. It is probable that people came from [[Pohnpei]] and [[Kosrae]] to the east, based on many legend and language similarities. As part of the [[colony|colonial]] territory of the [[Caroline Islands]], Truk was part of the [[Spanish Empire|Spanish]], then [[German Empire|German]] and the [[Empire of Japan|Japanese empires]]. During [[World War II]], [[Truk Lagoon]] was the [[Empire of Japan]]'s main base in the South Pacific theatre. A significant portion of the [[Japan|Japanese]] fleet was based there, with its administrative center on Tonoas (south of Weno). Truk was the base for Japanese operations against Allied forces in [[New Guinea]] and the [[Solomon Islands]]. [[Operation Hailstone]], executed by the [[United States]] in [[1944]], culminated in one of the most important naval battles of the war at Truk. Twelve Japanese [[warship]]s, thirty-two merchant ships and 249 [[aircraft]] were destroyed, although the larger ships had received advance warning and were already at sea. Chuuk was one of six districts of the [[Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands]] which were administered by the United States under charter from the [[United Nations]] from the end of the Second World War to the early 1990s. On [[July 2]], [[2002]], heavy rains from [[Typhoon Chataan|Tropical Storm Chataan]] caused more than thirty landslides that killed forty-seven people and injured dozens others, in the state's deadliest weather disaster. The landslides occurred throughout the day, some within just minutes of each other. ==Economy and infrastructure== Most of the roads and transportation systems are poor or in disrepair. Taxis cost between $1 to $2 depending on distance to destination. There is a small international airport on the administrative island of Weno. The airport ([[IATA airport code]] [[Chuuk_International_Airport|TKK]]) is served by [[Continental Micronesia]], a division of [[Continental Airlines]], locally known as AirMic. The government of the state operates a [[radio station]]. Interisland communication is often accomplished using [[citizens' band radio]]. Telephone services are limited on Chuuk, though a cellular network is established within some islands of the lagoon and in the near future on the outer islands. Tourism, especially [[scuba diving]] among the many wrecks of Truk Lagoon, is the island's main industry. [[Copra]], dried [[coconut]] meat, is the only cash crop but output is relatively insignificant. Most of the inhabited outlying islands engage in subsistence activity only. ==Culture== ===Jesuit mission at Weno=== The New York Province of the Society of Jesus, also known as the [[Society of Jesus|Jesuits]], maintains a mission school on the island of Weno in Chuuk. [[Xavier High School (Micronesia)|Xavier High School]] is housed at the former Japanese communications center. It is a coeducational institution, drawing students from the all island groups of the Federated States of Micronesia, as well as the Republic of Pelau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Teachers are both Jesuit and lay and come from Micronesia, the U.S., [[Indonesia]], Japan, and [[Australia]]. All lay teachers are volunteers. ==References in Literature== *Chuuk, referred to as Truk, is featured in the [[Willard Price]] novel [[South Sea Adventure]]. It is on this island that [[Hal and Roger Hunt| Hal Hunt]], his brother [[Hal and Roger Hunt| Roger Hunt]] and their companion Omo are washed up after their raft is destroyed in a [[waterspout]]. ==Gallery== <gallery> Image:1849_aquaimages.jpg|Mitsubishi "Betty" bomber Image:1851_aquaimages.jpg|Bow gun of the Fujikawa Maru Image:1856_aquaimages.jpg|1930's truck in the hold of the Hoki Maru Image:1862_aquaimages.jpg|2-man tankette on the deck of the Nippo Maru Image:1864_aquaimages.jpg|Light artillery piece on the deck of the Nippo Maru Image:1877_aquaimages.jpg|Divers next to the mast of the Unkai Maru Image:1878_aquaimages.jpg|Diver photographing 18-inch artillery shells in the Yamagiri Maru Image:1855_aquaimages.jpg|Diver and soft corals next to the mast of the Hoki Maru </gallery> == Municipalities == Of the 40 municipalities of the state, 16 fall within [[Truk Lagoon]] and 24 in the Outer Islands. Northern Nomoneas (Shiki) Islands, Truk Lagoon: # [[Moen (island)|Moen]] # [[Fono]] # [[Pis-Paneu]] Southern Nomoneas (Shiki) Islands, Truk Lagoon: # [[Fefan]] # [[Tonowas]] # [[Uman, Micronesia|Uman]] (including uninhabited Kuop (Neoch) Atoll?) # [[Param, Micronesia|Parama]] # [[Tsis]] Faichuk (Shichiyo) Islands, Truk Lagoon: # [[Tol]] # Wonei (Onei) # Polle # Paata (Pata) (Nomwisofo): # [[Udot]] # [[Fanapanges]] # [[Romanum]] # [[Eot]] Hall Islands (north): #Nomwin (including uninhabited Fayu Island) #Fananu (eastern islets of Nomwin Atoll) #Murilo #Ruo (southeast islet of Murilo Atoll) [[Namonuito Atoll]] (Magur Islands) (northwest): #Pisaras #Magur #Ono #Onari #Ulul Pattiw (western islands): #Pulap (north islet of Pulap Atoll) #Tamatam (south islet of Pulap Atoll, with Fanadik islet in the center) #Pulusuk #[[Poluwat]] (Puluwat) Eastern Islands (Upper Mortlock Islands): # [[Nama (Micronesia)|Nama]] # [[Losap]] # [[Pis-Losap]] (islet of Losap Atoll) # [[Namoluk]] Mortlock Islands: # [[Ettal]] # [[Lukunor]] # [[Oneop]] (west islet of Lukunor Atoll) # [[Satawan]] # [[Kutu]] (west islet of Satawan Atoll) # [[Moch]] (north islet of Satawan Atoll) # [[Ta]] (southeast islet of Satawan Atoll) ==References== {{Reflist}} == External links == * [http://www.visit-fsm.org/chuuk/ Chuuk (Truk) Visitors Center] * [http://www.janeresture.com/fedmic/chuuk.htm Jane's Chuuk Page] * [http://xaviermicronesia.org Xavier High School] * [http://chuukhighschool.blogspot.com Chuuk High School] * [http://www.micsem.org The Micronesian Seminar] * [http://www.rohlen.se/bilder/truklagoon/ Images from a dive trip to Truk Lagoon in july 2006] *[http://www.micronesiagrandtour.com EcoTourism in Micronesia] {{States of Micronesia}} {{coor title dm|7|00|N|152|00|E|region:FM_type:adm1st}} [[Category:Chuuk| ]] [[Category:Underwater diving sites]] [[bg:Чуюк]] [[de:Chuuk]] [[eo:Chuuk]] [[fr:Chuuk]] [[ko:추크 제도]] [[nl:Chuuk]] [[ja:チューク諸島]] [[pl:Chuuk (wyspy)]] [[pt:Chuuk]] [[fi:Chuuk]] [[uk:Чуук]]