Useful Notes / Marshall Islands

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (Marshallese: Aolepān Aorōkin Ṃajeḷ) is a island country that consists of hundreds of islands in Oceania, spread over 30 atolls and 5 independent islands. It is sandwiched between two fellow atoll countries, the Federated States of Micronesia and Kiribati. The Marshall Islands are a part of Micronesia, a cultural region of the Pacific Ocean, and their official languages are English and Marshallese.

The islands were probably settled by the Malayo-Polynesians from the Solomon Islands in the 2nd millennium BCE. Spanish explorer Alonso de Salazar was the first European to see the islands in 1526, though actual contact with the islanders would not occur until a couple of decades later.

The islands were formally annexed by Germany in 1885, following negotiations between the Germans and British regarding their Pacific sphere of influence. After World War I, they lost them, like their other Pacific colonies, to Japan. After World War II, their administration passed to the United States, which decided to conduct a few nuclear tests on the atolls - they even destroyed some atolls with the explosions, evacuating the people there beforehand. The country declared independence in 1979.

Probably the most famous landmark of the Marshall Islands is Bikini Atoll (the type of swimwear was named after it, not the other way around) and its bottom, where SpongeBob SquarePants and company reside. Actually, considering the nuclear tests in the area, the sheer weirdness of Bikini Bottom should not be a surprise. Nuclear testing contaminated the soil to the point that the residents of the atoll had to be relocated.

Also culturally notable is both the Mike test of the first thermonuclear "weapon" during Operation Ivy in 1952 and the infamous Bravo test during Operation Castle conducted in 1954, the error in fuel used resulted in a magnified blast yield, resulting in a massive contamination of fallout which perhaps inspired and is featured heavily in the Godzilla mythos as part of the King of the Monster's origin story. Rising Storm, interestingly, unlike most other World War II games set in the Pacific, actually bothers to cover the Battle of Kwajalein between the US 7th Infantry Division and the Imperial Japanese Army.

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The Marshallese flag

The blue field represents the ocean. The white and orange lines running across the field symbolize the Equator, as well as, taken individually, the Ratak ("sunrise") and Ralik ("sunset") Chains, respectively. At the canton is a white star, symbolizing its position slightly north of the Equator, and whose 24 points represent the islands' electoral districts — Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur, Ebon, Enewetak/Ujelang, Jabat, Jaluit, Kili/Bikini/Ejit, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap, Mejit, Mili, Namorik, Namu, Rongelap, Ujae, Utirik, Wotho and Wotje. Four of the rays are longer than the rest, representing Majuro, Jaluit, Wotje and Ebeye, the four major municipalities, as well as Christianity.

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The Marshallese national anthem

Aelōn̄ eo ao ion lometo;

Einwot wut ko lōti ion dren elae;

Kin meram in Mekar jen ijo ilan̄;

Erreo an romak ioir kin meram in mour;

Eltan pein Anij eweleo im wōj;

Kejolit kij kin ijin jikir emol;

Ijjamin Ilok jen in aō lemoran;

Anij an ro jemem wonakke im kejrammon Aelin̄ kein ad.

—

My island lies o'er the ocean;

Like a wreath of flowers upon the sea;

With the light of the Maker from far above;

Shining with the brilliance of rays of life;

Our Father's wondrous creation;

Bequeathed to us, our motherland;

I'll never leave my dear home sweet home;

God of our forefathers protect and bless forever Marshall Islands

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Government

• Unitary parliamentary republic with an executive presidency
  • President: Hilda Heine
  • Speaker: Brenson Wase

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Miscellaneous

• Capital and largest city: Majuro
• Population: 58,413
• Area: 181.43 sq km (70.05 sq mi) (188th)
• Currency: United States dollar ($) (USD)
• ISO-3166-1 Code: MH
• Country calling code: 692
• Highest point: Likiep (10 m/33 ft) (200th)
• Lowest point: Pacific Ocean (10,911 m/35,797 ft) (-)