Pacific

The Pacific Island nations are made up of thousands of small islands spread across the Pacific Ocean. They have diverse physical formations, from those formed by folding and faulting along the edge of the continental shelves of Asia and Australia, volcanic activity on the ocean floor and coral deposits on islands of volcanic origin. The people have diverse cultural backgrounds which are roughly grouped as Polynesian (east), Micronesian (west) and Melanesian. The Pacific Island nations face many difficulties due to their small size, lack of economic diversity, remoteness from major trade routes, and often, weak governance.   Map courtesy Y & C Critchell, Cartographic Consultants

The People of the Pacific online project is a place for students to develop knowledge and understanding of the Pacific people and their cultures. By collaborating online students will develop an appreciation of our responsibilities as global citizens and explore opportunities to take action.