The Republic of Fiji is a group of over 300 islands in the Pacific Ocean, but only 106 are inhabited. It's located north-east of Australia, north of New Zealand, west of Tonga and east of Vanuatu between 18° and 21°S Latitude.
The islands of Fiji are largely of oceanic origin, formed by volcanic events and a build up of coral; the oldest dates back to 40 million years (tdfpacific). The two largest islands in the archipelago are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu; other main islands include Taveuni, Kadavu, Gau and Koro (Fiji.gov). Most of the big island of Viti Levu's interior is highlands and mountain ranges including the highest peak in Fiji-- Mt. Tomanivi (1300 meters). The mountainous interior and winds create the conditions for a wet Eastern side (with plentiful rainfall, high humidity and lush, green vegetation) and dry Western side (where there was once large expanses of tropical dry forest). The tropical dry forests occurred on much of the west sides of the large islands of Fiji before the arrival of of the first humans over 3500 years ago. Since then human pressures including agriculture and introduction of non-native species has caused severe degradation to the tropical dry forests of Fiji (tdfpacificfiji).
The islands of Fiji are largely of oceanic origin, formed by volcanic events and a build up of coral; the oldest dates back to 40 million years (tdfpacific). The two largest islands in the archipelago are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu; other main islands include Taveuni, Kadavu, Gau and Koro (Fiji.gov). Most of the big island of Viti Levu's interior is highlands and mountain ranges including the highest peak in Fiji-- Mt. Tomanivi (1300 meters). The mountainous interior and winds create the conditions for a wet Eastern side (with plentiful rainfall, high humidity and lush, green vegetation) and dry Western side (where there was once large expanses of tropical dry forest). The tropical dry forests occurred on much of the west sides of the large islands of Fiji before the arrival of of the first humans over 3500 years ago. Since then human pressures including agriculture and introduction of non-native species has caused severe degradation to the tropical dry forests of Fiji (tdfpacificfiji).
Sources:
http://fijidiscovery.com/geography.php,
http://fijidiscovery.com/fiji-climate.php,
http://www.geog.ucla.edu/tdfpacific/fiji.html
http://fijidiscovery.com/geography.php,
http://fijidiscovery.com/fiji-climate.php,
http://www.geog.ucla.edu/tdfpacific/fiji.html