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Geography
Map of the Marshall Islands
Average monthly temperatures (red) and precipitation (blue) on Majuro.Geography
of the Marshall Islands
The country consists of twenty-nine atolls and five isolated islands. The most
important atolls and islands form two groups: the Ratak Chain and the Ralik
Chain (meaning "sunrise" and "sunset" chains). Two-thirds of the nation's
population lives on Majuro (which is also the capital) and Ebeye. The outer
islands are sparsely populated due to lack of employment opportunities and
economic development. Life on the outer atolls is generally still fairly
traditional, and the nutrition of the rural population, consuming food that is
either grown or caught, is superior to that of most of the urban residents, who
rely considerably on white rice. A majority of the islands' land mass is at sea
level.
The uninhabited atolls are:
Ailinginae Atoll
Bikar (Bikaar) Atoll
Bikini Atoll
Bokak Atoll
Erikub Atoll
Jemo Island
Nadikdik (Knox) Atoll
Rongerik Atoll
Toke Atoll
Ujelang Atoll
The climate is hot and humid, with a wet season from May to November. The
islands occasionally suffer from typhoons. Many Pacific typhoons start in the
Marshall Islands region and grow stronger as they move west toward the Mariana
Islands and the Philippines.
The Marshall Islands also lays claim to Wake Island, administered by the United
States.
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