Marshall Islands Exports

According to MIT's Observatory of Economic Complexity (atlas.media.mit.edu), the following items are major exports of the MARSHALL ISLANDS: artwork, broadcasting equipment, cargo ships, chocolate, clothing, coral and shells, cut flowers, ferroalloys, fish fillets, hand tools, handicrafts, measuring instruments, medical instruments, medical supplies, oscilloscopes, padlocks, passenger ships, petroleum coke, plastic pipes, recreational boats, refined petroleum, scrap copper and iron, scrap vessels, seafood (especially crabs, fish, and mollusks), silk fabric, steel wiring, and tobacco. According to the International Monetary Fund (data.imf.org), countries and territories buying and importing most of those exports (February 2017 statistics) include Spain (top importer), South Korea, Japan, the Netherlands, China, Turkey, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt, the Philippines, Micronesia, Tanzania, Chile, South Africa, Germany, Brazil, and Colombia.

World's 10 Smallest Countries and Their Popular Places

While the following countries are the world's ten smallest ones, these are all worthy destinations for any bucket-list globetrotter! Including popular attractions or sites of interest in each country, this list is sorted based on land area. Otherwise, a country such as the MARSHALL ISLANDS would not be featured due to the vast amount of ocean water within its polygonal borders. Starting with the world's smallest country, drum roll please...

#1 ● ● ● ● ● VATICAN CITY ● ● ● ● ● 0.44 km² and 0.17 mi²
Popular Places:   Saint Peter's Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro), St. Peter's Square (Piazza San Pietro), Sistine Chapel in the Apostolic Palace, Grotto of Lourdes, Sacristy, Audience Hall, Roman Curia, various museums, and Palace of the Tribunal
Blog Post (↗)

#2 ● ● ● ● ● MONACO ● ● ● ● ● 2 km² and 0.77 mi²
Popular Places:   Casino Monte Carlo, Monaco Grand Prix race (Circuit de Monaco), Auditorium Rainier III (↗), Monte Carlo Harbor, Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, Princess Grace Botanical Garden, Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Prince's Palace, and Place du Palais
Blog Post (↗)

#3 ● ● ● ● ● NAURU ● ● ● ● ● 21 km² and 8.1 mi²
Popular Places and Activities:   Anibare Bay, Central Plateau, Japanese WWII guns and bunkers, Buada Lagoon, scuba diving and snorkeling, Parliament House, and Moqua Well
Blog Post (↗)

#4 ● ● ● ● ● TUVALU ● ● ● ● ● 26 km² and 10.04 mi²
Popular Places and Activities:   Funafuti Marine Conservation Area, scuba diving and snorkeling, various beaches and resorts, Tuvalu National Library, and Tuvalu Women's Handicraft Center
Blog Post (↗)

#5 ● ● ● ● ● SAN MARINO ● ● ● ● ● 61 km² and 24 mi²
Popular Places:   Centro Storico Di San Marino, Guaita Castle, Piazza della Liberta, Cesta Tower, Mounte Titano (↗), Palazzo Pubblico, Basilica del Santo Marino, and San Marino Adventures (↗) ecotourist theme park
Blog Post (↗)

#6 ● ● ● ● ● LIECHTENSTEIN ● ● ● ● ● 160 km² and 62 mi²
Popular Places:   Vaduz Castle, Liechtenstein Center, national museum, The Main Square in Vaduz, Postage Stamp Museum, Museum of Fine Arts (Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein), Cathedral of St. Florin, Burg Gutenberg castle, and various ski resorts
Blog Post (↗)

#7 ● ● ● ● ● MARSHALL ISLANDS ● ● ● ● ● 181 km² and 70 mi²
Popular Places and Activities:   Alele Museum, Library, and National Archives; Arno Atoll; Bikini Atoll; Cathedral of the Assumption; various beaches; and scuba diving and snorkeling
Blog Post (↗)

#8 ● ● ● ● ● SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS ● ● ● ● ● 261 km² and 101 mi²
Popular Places and Activities:   Brimstone Hill Fortress, Greg's Safaris, Clay Villa Plantation House & Gardens, Romney Manor, Botanical Gardens of Nevis, St. Kitts Scenic Railway, scuba diving and snorkeling, sightseeing tours/excursions, and various beaches and resorts
Blog Post (↗)

#9 ● ● ● ● ● The MALDIVES ● ● ● ● ● 298 km² and 115 mi²
Popular Places and Activities:   Alimatha Island, Biyadoo Island, Male Fish Market, Grand Friday Mosque, Manta Point, Banana Reef, Sultan Park, Tiny Island Marine Conservation Center, spas, scuba diving and snorkeling, yoga/pilates, and various beaches
Blog Post (↗)

#10 ● ● ● ● ● MALTA ● ● ● ● ● 316 km² and 122 mi²
Popular Places:   Mdina Old City, St. John's Cathedral, Fort Rinella, Upper Barrakka Gardens, Azure Window geologic arch, Malta Classic Car Collection Museum, Malta Falconry Center, Rotunda (Church of St. Mary), Valletta Waterfront, Casa Rocca Piccola, Hagar Qim Temples, Dingli Cliffs, and various beaches
Blog Post (↗)

Marshall Islands Quiz

See if you can answer these quiz questions pertaining to the MARSHALL ISLANDS without the help of literary resources and the Internet. Answers are provided at the end — good luck!

1)      Which of the following atolls was not the site for nuclear weapons testing by the UNITED STATES in the mid-20th century?
A — Bikini Atoll
B — Enewetak Atoll
C — Kili Atoll

2)      True or false: Marshallese residents drive on the left side of their country’s roads.

3)      The world’s third-smallest country by area is south of the Marshall Islands. Which Pacific Ocean country is it?
A — FEDERATED STATES of MICRONESIA
B — NAURU
C — KIRIBATI
D — SAMOA

4)      The Marshall Islands’ main parallel island chains are known as Ratak and Ralik in the Marshallese language. What are they known as in English?
A — east and west
B — serenity and tranquility
C — sunrise and sunset

5)      The country has one of the smallest export economies in the world and heavily relies on U.S. monetary aid. What is one major export?
A — copra cakes
B — canned goods
C — wool


















ANSWERS
Question 1:
C . . . . . Kili

Question 2:
False

Question 3:
B . . . . . Nauru

Question 4:
C. . . . . sunrise and sunset

Question 5:
A . . . . . copra (coconut) cakes

So, how did you do? Thanks for taking this quiz! Map image is credited to National Geographic's Mapmaker Interactive (↗)

Marshall Islands Endangered Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ for MARSHALL ISLANDS in Oceania lists eight endangered species since the beginning of IUCN recordkeeping. Like Kiribati and Lesotho, there are no critically endangered species living among the Marshall Islands. The vast aquatic country's endangered species are as follows: two Black Teatfish species (Holothuria nobilis and Holothuria whitmaei), Boettger's Emo Skink, Dumeril's Tropical Gecko, Green Turtle, Prickly Redfish sea cucumber, Pygmy Blue Whale, and Undulate Wrasse fish.

"Land" Countries

Several countries in Asia, Europe, and Oceania have the word land in their names. I nickname them the "Land Countries," which are listed right here: FINLAND, ICELAND, IRELAND, MARSHALL ISLANDS, The NETHERLANDS, NEW ZEALAND, POLAND, SOLOMON ISLANDS, SWAZILAND, SWITZERLAND, and THAILAND. Somaliland in northeast Africa is another entity with land in its name. However, it is an autonomous region in SOMALIA fighting for its independence, not a recognized country currently.

GeoFact of the Day | The Atolls of Marshall Islands

The MARSHALL ISLANDS, a vast country east of the Federated States of Micronesia in the North Pacific Ocean, have islands like Kili and Mejit. However, there are many more atolls than regular islands. Even Kili Island is part of an atoll. The capital, Majuro, is located on Majuro atoll. Several of the many atolls that the Marshall Islands claim include Ailinginae, Ailinglaplap (great name!), Ailuk, Jaluit, Maleolap, Utrik, and Wotho.

Marshall Islands

MARSHALL ISLANDS is a huge region of islands and atolls, part of the Micronesia subregion. The Marshall Islands are northwest of Kiribati. The capital is Majuro. The official languages are Marshallese and English. Inhabitants of the Marshall Islands use the US Dollar.

Map credit:  National Geographic Mapmaker (↗)