| The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) is located in the middle of the vast Pacific floating between Hawai'i and Guam. It consists of 29 coral atolls and 5 individual islands spread over 750,000 square miles of ocean. All together, the country is made up of 1,225 islands and has a total land mass of about 70 square miles. With an approximate population of over 60,000 people, just over 55% of the population are under 18 years old. While many Marshallese continue to move to the urban areas of Ebeye and Majuro, the majority of Islanders live on small isolated islands. In the urban center there is electricity, telecommunications, vehicles and other ammenities. On most outer islands there is no universal electricity, water is caught in catchments, and communication is via two-way radio. Supplies from the mainland are shipped by freight to urban centers. Rice, sugar, flour, tea and other minimal supplies are taken to outer islands on quarterly "Field Trip" ships. With miles of beautiful white sand beaches, aqua waters and coconut trees, the Marshall Islands are Pacific Islands picturesque. |
