Kiribati

Kiribati is a Micronesia country made up of 33 islands divided into three major island groups. Kiribati stretches 1,800 miles (2,900 km) eastward from the 16 Gilbert Islands, where the majority of the population resides, to the Line Islands, three of which are inhabited. In between are the Phoenix group of islands, which have no permanent population. 313 square miles is the total land area (811 square km).

A few of the islands are densely packed with fringing reefs, but the majority are atolls. Kiritimati (Christmas) Atoll in the Line group is the largest (and one of the largest in the world), with a land area of 150 square miles (388 square kilometers) and accounting for nearly half of the country's total area. Kiritimati was used for nuclear weapons testing by the United States and the United Kingdom in the 1960s; it now has a large coconut plantation and fish farms, as well as several satellite telemetry stations.

The islands rise above the sea, surrounded by turquoise blue waters and pristine nature. The islands are an excellent location for world-class diving, fishing, and bird watching. Native peoples continue to live in groups and build their own homes out of natural materials, carrying on a rich tradition. Dance and handicrafts are an important part of life on this island.

Location: Federated States of Micronesia