City Population Review

Tagged: Tonga

According to wholevehicles, Tonga is an archipelago of 169 islands located in the South Pacific Ocean, approximately 2,000 kilometers northeast of New Zealand. It is the only nation in the world to be comprised entirely of volcanic islands, which are divided into four main island groups: Tongatapu, Ha’apai, Vava’u and Niuas. The largest island of Tongatapu is home to the capital city of Nuku’alofa and is known for its pristine white-sand beaches and lush tropical forests. The Ha’apai group consists of 62 coral atolls and reefs that house a variety of seabirds, turtles, and whales. The Vava’u group consists mainly of limestone islands with beautiful lagoons, caves and coral reefs. Lastly, Niuas has three main islands that are known for their rugged terrain and untouched beauty. The climate in Tonga is tropical with warm temperatures throughout the year. It experiences two distinct seasons; a wet season from November to April and a dry season from May to October. During the wet season temperatures range between 21-30C (70-86F) while during the dry season temperatures range between 18-27C (64-80F). Tonga’s terrain is generally hilly with some areas being quite mountainous. There are several active volcanoes on some of the larger islands such as Tofua Island in Vava’u Group and Kao Island in Ha’apai Group. The archipelago also has several large lagoons that provide ideal habitats for sea life such as sharks, manta rays, dolphins, whales and sea turtles among others. Tonga is renowned for its rich cultural heritage which includes traditional music performances like ‘taumafa kava’, ‘lakalaka’ dance performances as well as traditional customs like ‘fakanau’ or tattooing ceremonies held during special occasions such as birthdays or weddings. The country also prides itself on its vibrant art scene with numerous artists creating unique works inspired by Tongan culture including woodcarvings, prints, paintings etc.. Additionally Tonga has an array of national parks where visitors can explore diverse flora & fauna including rare endemic species like koloa maoli (the national bird) or the humpback whale which can be seen migrating around these waters every year from July to October. See bridgat for weather information in Tonga.