Chuuk State

Chuuk State
state

Flag

Map of Chuuk State
Coordinates: 7°25′N 151°47′E / 7.417°N 151.783°E / 7.417; 151.783Coordinates: 7°25′N 151°47′E / 7.417°N 151.783°E / 7.417; 151.783
Country Federated States of Micronesia Federated States of Micronesia
Capital Weno
Government
 • Governor Johnson Elimo (since 2011)
Area
 • Total 121.5 km2 (46.9 sq mi)
Population (2010)
 • Total 48,654
 • Density 400/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code FM-TRK
Website www.fm/chuuk.htm

Chuuk State (also known as Truk) is one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). The other states are Kosrae State, Pohnpei State, and Yap State. It consists of several island groups:

Chuuk is the most populous state of the FSM with 50,000 inhabitants on 120 square kilometres (46 square miles). Chuuk Lagoon is where most people live. Weno Island in the Lagoon functions as state capital and is FSM's biggest city.

History

Chuuk was one of six districts of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI) which were administered by the United States under charter from the United Nations from the end of the Second World War to the mid-1980s. The termination of U.S. administration of the Chuuk, Yap, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Mariana Islands districts of the TTPI occurred on November 3, 1986. The Federated States of Micronesia, including Chuuk, Yap, Kosrae, and Pohnpei, was established in 1979 and signed a Compact of Free Association with the U.S. (effective November 3, 1986).

On July 2, 2002, heavy rains from Tropical Storm Chataan caused more than thirty landslides that killed forty-seven people and injured dozens of others, in the state's deadliest weather disaster. The landslides occurred throughout the day, some within just minutes of each other.

Geography

To the west is Yap State. To the east are Pohnpei State and Kosrae State is further east.

The main population center of Chuuk State is the 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 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 it has some of the most traditional islands in the Pacific and is culturally related to outer islands of Yap. This group includes the islands of Pollap, Tamatam, Poluwat, and Houk. Today you can still find traditional master navigators—Poluwat and Pollap are considered to have some of the best navigators and ocean-going outrigger canoes in the Pacific. In the islands of the Pattiw Region, and some of the Islands of Yap, you will still find today the last two remaining schools of navigation, Weriyeng and Faaluush. Visiting the Pattiw Region in the west, however, is difficult due to the lack of reliable transportation. Houk probably has the most accessible airstrip in the Pattiw Region, with planes landing every one or two weeks.

Climate

Climate data for Weno, Chuuk
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 33
(91)		 32
(90)		 32
(90)		 33
(92)		 33
(91)		 33
(92)		 33
(92)		 33
(92)		 34
(93)		 33
(92)		 33
(91)		 33
(91)		 34
(93)
Average high °C (°F) 29.9
(85.8)		 29.9
(85.8)		 30.2
(86.4)		 30.4
(86.7)		 30.7
(87.3)		 30.7
(87.3)		 30.6
(87.1)		 30.7
(87.3)		 30.7
(87.3)		 30.7
(87.3)		 30.7
(87.3)		 30.2
(86.4)		 30.4
(86.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) 27.4
(81.3)		 27.5
(81.5)		 27.6
(81.7)		 27.7
(81.9)		 27.8
(82)		 27.7
(81.9)		 27.4
(81.3)		 27.4
(81.3)		 27.5
(81.5)		 27.6
(81.7)		 27.7
(81.9)		 27.6
(81.7)		 27.6
(81.7)
Average low °C (°F) 24.9
(76.8)		 25.0
(77)		 25.1
(77.2)		 25.0
(77)		 24.9
(76.8)		 24.6
(76.3)		 24.2
(75.6)		 24.2
(75.6)		 24.2
(75.6)		 24.3
(75.7)		 24.6
(76.3)		 25.0
(77)		 24.7
(76.5)
Record low °C (°F) 21
(69)		 21
(70)		 22
(71)		 22
(71)		 21
(70)		 21
(70)		 21
(70)		 21
(70)		 20
(68)		 19
(66)		 21
(70)		 21
(70)		 19
(66)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 228.1
(8.98)		 163.1
(6.42)		 229.9
(9.05)		 291.1
(11.46)		 354.1
(13.94)		 300.7
(11.84)		 365
(14.37)		 349.8
(13.77)		 306.6
(12.07)		 361.4
(14.23)		 281.9
(11.10)		 293.4
(11.55)		 3,525
(138.78)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 14.8 12.2 14.9 16.2 21.2 20.3 20.8 21.0 18.6 20.0 20.0 18.8 218.8
Average relative humidity (%) 78.7 77.7 78.7 81.0 82.6 82.9 83.9 83.2 83.0 83.1 81.9 80.8 81.6
Mean monthly sunshine hours 195.3 197.8 217.0 195.0 192.2 180.0 195.3 195.3 177.0 161.2 162.0 167.4 2,235.5
Source #1: Hong Kong Observatory (sun 1961–1990)[1]
Source #2: NOAA [2]

Demographics

Chuuk is the most populous of the FSM's states. At the Census held on 1 April 2000, it had 53,595 inhabitants, compared with 34,486 for Pohnpei, 11,241 for Yap and 7,686 for Kosrae; at the Census held on 4 April 2010, it had 48,654 inhabitants, compared with 36,196 for Pohnpei, 11,377 for Yap and 6,616 for Kosrae.[3] There are about 600 people living in Uman. Uman was the 1st place champion in Chuuk's National Challenges 1990-2016.

Culture

Jesuit mission at Weno

The New York Province of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) maintains a mission school on the island of Weno in Chuuk. Xavier High School is housed at the former Japanese communications center. It is a coeducational institution, drawing students from all the island groups of the Federated States of Micronesia, as well as Palau and 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.

Spirit possession

Although Chuuk is an overwhelmingly Christian society, traditional beliefs in spirit possession by the dead still exist. Allegedly, these spirits overwhelmingly possess women, and spirit possession is usually brought on by family conflicts. The spirits, speaking through the women, typically admonish family members to treat each other better.[4]

Cultural references

There are some references on Chuuk language, treating guests, and on beliefs in the sci-fi book "Reefsong" from Carol Severance.

Municipalities

Of the 40 municipalities of the state, 16 fall within the Chuuk Lagoon and 24 in the Outer Islands. In the table below, each is followed by its population at the Census held on 1 April 2000.[3]

Chuuk Lagoon

Faichuk (Shichiyo) Islands

Faichuk (Shichiyo) Islands:

  • Paata (Pata) (1,950)
  • Polle (1,851)
  • Tol (5,129)
  • Wonei (Onei) (1,271)

Nomwisofo Islands:

Nomoneas (Shiki) Islands

Northern Nomoneas (Shiki) Islands:

  • Fono (397)
  • Pis-Paneu (523)
  • Weno (Moen) (13,802)

Southern Nomoneas (Shiki) Islands:

Mortlock Islands

Lower Mortlock Islands (Nomoi Islands):

  • Etal (267)
  • Lukunor (927)
  • Oneop (west islet of Lukunor Atoll) (505)
  • Satawan (955)
  • Kuttu (west islet of Satawan Atoll)
  • Moch (north islet of Satawan Atoll)
  • Ta (southeast islet of Satawan Atoll)

Upper Mortlock Islands (Eastern Islands):

Northwest Outer Islands

Hall Islands (north):

Namonuito Atoll (Magur Islands) (northwest):

Pattiw Islands (Western Islands):

Education

Chuuk State Department of Education operates public schools.

Public high schools:[5]

Private secondary schools:[6]

  • Berea Christian High School - Weno
  • Saramen Chuuk Academy
  • Xavier High School - Weno
  • Mizpah Christian High School
  • Seventh Day Adventist Mission School\[5]

Private primary schools:[5]

  • Pentecostal Light House Academy
  • Saint Cecilia School
  • Seventh Day Adventist Mission School

See also

  • Habele, a South Carolina-based charity providing private economic educational assistance in Chuuk.

References

  1. ↑ "Climatological Information for Truk, Pacific Islands, United States". Hong Kong Observatory. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  2. ↑ "TRUK ISLAND/CAROLINE ISLANDS PI Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  3. 1 2 Office of Statistics, Budget and Economic Management, Overseas Development Assistance and Compact Management.
  4. ↑ Hezel, Francis X. 1993 Spirit Possession in Chuuk: Socio-Cultural Interpretation. Micronesian Counselor 11
  5. 1 2 3 "School location." Chuuk State Department of Education. Retrieved on February 28, 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 "Higher Education in the Federated States of Micronesia." Embassy of the Federated States of Micronesia Washington DC. Retrieved on February 23, 2018.
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