Together with the Mariana archipelaqc, the Carolines, these form the Trust
Territory of the Pacific Islands,
administered by the United States for the
United Nations since World War II.
This area is generally known as Micronesia--
the name suggesting the tiny size of the
islands.
Of the 2,240 islands
in
Micronesia, only 125 are inhabited.
There are two different types of islands in the Pacific, the volcanic and
the coral.
The Marshall Islands are all coral with a very low average elevation
from the water.
In most cases the average altitude is about 5 feet.
All these
atolls are like necklaces in the vast ocean with a lagoon in the middle.
In many
cases, the average width of the island is approximately one city block.
Peoples
of
the
nutrition and health.
world
are
always
concerned
about
food
production
and
Different types of islands present different problems and
opportunities for agriculture and food production
in general.
The Marshall
Islands, being all coral atolls, present special kinds of problems for local
agriculture and food production.
The soil is composed mostly of coral sand which
is highly alkaline and consequently,
unless a great amount of humus can be
incorporated in the soil or unless fertile soil is imported from elsewhere, the
types of plants that can be grown are very limited.
The basic food supplies that
are locally grown are coconuts, breadfruit, pandanas fruit, taro, and arrow root
(in the northern islands).
Therefore, a great majority of the food supply is
imported in the form of canned goods and other staples such as rice and some
flour.
B.
Demography and Population
Figures are very difficult to obtain in the Marshall Islands.
Statistics
are something new and alien to the Marshallese ways of dealing with each other in
their
societal
processes.
However,
there are several
factors
that can be
discussed with certainty:
1.
The official
population census of 1973,
as quoted in the Health
Contract between the §.D.A. Church and the government of the Marshall Islands,
was 24,135.
However,
around 30,000.
all government officials believe the count in 1980 is
A census is being conducted in the islands during 1980.
The
results are not known yet and probably will not be for some time.
2.
The population is a young population.
the population is 20 years of age or younger.
It is estimated that half of