12. If you’re planning a trip to Fiji, lucky you! The first word in the native Fijian language you’ll need to learn is Bula, which means “hello”, because you will hear... 3. Join Neeraj Narayanan and his trip leaders as they take you on the “magic bus” across locations in India, South East Asia and Europe. Archeological evidence suggests that Fiji was settled in three waves of immigration between 1230 BC–860 BC by early Polynesian peoples. Together with Mount Tate and Mount Haku, Mount Fuji forms the “ Three Holy Mountains ” of Japan. Fiji or Republic of Fiji is actually an island nation with about 332 (though some sources have said 333) islands and 110 are inhabited. Most visitors are from Australia, New Zealand and the USA. English, Fijian, and Hindi, are the official languages of Fiji. After 96 years of British rule, Fiji became independent in 1970 but remained part of the British Commonwealth. The last known victim was himself a missionary. Fiji is a nation that occupies 7,056 square miles within the Pacific Ocean and is one of the most popular countries in the region. 10 Interesting Facts About Fiji 1) Fiji is composed of more than 300 islands. Now you’ll see the cool side of the country with the fun facts about Fiji that will make you pack your bags and catch the next plane. Not everything is related to history in Fiji. Fiji is one of the most successful nations to compete in the Hong Kong Sevens having won the event 15 times. Fiji Fun Facts and Trivia Until the mid-19th century, the practice of eating one’s enemy was an accepted and honored tradition in Fiji. The Fiji Islands are arranged in a horseshoe configuration, with Viti Levu and adjacent islands on the west, Vanua Levu and Taveuni in … 9. Fiji, country and archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean. The Fiji Museum indicates that according to archaeological evidence, the practice is at least 2,500 years old. Visit the Garden of the Sleeping Giant to see the orchids or experience the Sabeto Hot Springs and Mud Pool in Nadi. So, there is no actual and lone island called Fiji. Only the leaders can wear them. Ten fun facts about Fiji. 8. 13. Suva, its capital city, is also located here. Don’t be afraid to handle them; there are no venomous snakes in the Fiji Islands. 7. Scuba diving is a common tourist activity. Why is this article needed? 10 Fantastic Facts about Fiji Located in the South Pacific, Fiji is an archipelago nation approximately 1,300 miles north of New Zealand. The population of Fiji is 883,483 (2018), a small number considering the number of islands – it works out as an average of just over 2,500 residents per island! More than 60,000 indented workers arrived before the practice ended in 1920. Thomas Baker made the mistake of accidentally touching the head of the village chief, an insult tantamount to a declaration of war. The most popular form of rugby within Fiji is the seven aside, and their national team is one of the most successful in the world. This is similar to the peak of Mauna Kea on the island of Hawaii which is also sacred in the native culture there. Another of Fiji's islands with a significant population is the island of Vanua Levu. Under British rule, Indian servants were brought to Fiji to work in the sugarcane fields. The largest proportion of the inhabitants of Viti Levu live along the island's coast since the interior is not as habitable due to the terrain. 16. Later these Indian transplants would lead to conflicts in the islands’ government. Fun Facts About Fiji. Fijian dollar is its official currency. Fiji is teeming with things to do, from adrenaline adventures, island hopping, exploring villages and much more! Travel through time with the International Date Line – The island Taveuni is a place where you can travel through time. Youliang Teo Feb 19th, 2019. One of the most well-known traditional food preparation methods in Fiji is the use of underground pits which the locals refer to as lovo pits. Fun Facts About Fiji Fiji has 333 islands Only 110 islands have people living on them The International Dateline passes through the island of Taveuni. British control over the area formally started after a number of the highest ranking traditional Fijian chiefs such as Ma'afu and Cakobau signed the Deed of Concession. 10 Fun Facts About Fijian Culture According to island legend, Fiji history began when Cheif Lutunasobasoba, the “Box of Blessings” and his followers traveled across the seas and landed on Fiji. The Kava plant belongs to the pepper family and its botanical name is Piper methysticum (meaning intoxicating pepper). Fiji's highest point is Mount Tomanivi at 4,344 feet. In 1987, a military dictatorship took over the country to prevent an Indian-dominated party from controlling the government. Here are 18 Interesting Fiji facts. 1. One of the interesting geographical Mount Fuji facts is that it exists as part of a national park in Japan, called Fuji-Hakone-Izu. Fiji is officially called the Republic of Fiji. 2. Fact 1 Officially, this country is called the Republic of Fiji. On the territory of Fiji there are as many as 28 airports. This is the most visited national park in the country. Most of Fiji's islands and islets owe their formation to volcanic activity which began occurring in the region approximately 150,000,000 years ago. 22. 11. However, this small island nation still has a rich culinary heritage. The lovo pits are preferred when preparing vast quantities of food as they are exceptionally efficient. The original settlers of Fiji, who came to the islands over 5000 years ago, are now called the Lapita people but were originally Melanesians and Polynesians. Take the kids to the Big Bula Water Park or hike to one of the waterfalls or caves on the islands. Far from it. Join us is you love adventures, if you love nature and exploring offbeat beautiful trails. 1. FactsKing.com / Facts About Countries & Territories / 13 Interesting Facts about Fiji Fiji is an archipelago and country located in the South Pacific Ocean. Our Fiji staff and volunteers are always telling us such wonderful things about this beautiful archipelago, so we decided to share some of our favourite facts with you. Welcome to the home of the best Fiji holidays in Australia! Native Fijians of Melanesian and Polynesian ancestry make up 54% of the population. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. Suva is its capital and largest city. One of the most iconic beverages from Fiji is referred to as Kava and not only is it a traditional drink but it is the country's national drink. It is actually part of a wider area of some 186 miles of Tokyo city. Fiji: 5 interesting facts about the island nation By Sammy Heung 25 November 2020 share: Header image courtesy of Old Youth (via Unsplash) Fiji is not only about the magnificent beaches and stunning resorts—it is a tropical paradise with its 333 sublime islands and mysterious rain forests. The citizens of Fiji believe that the drink has numerous medicinal qualities particularly in the treatment of insomnia, headaches, and stress. Although this fact may not come as a surprise, it is interesting to note that the tourism industry in Fiji is a major contributor to the economy. 15. Only 110 of them are inhabited and all of them are beautiful combinations of volcanic mountain ranges, rainforests, and gorgeous sandy beaches. Here are 10 other facts about Fiji you might not know: Fiji's territory is comprised of 332 islands although some sources have indicated that there are 333 islands. Today the population is 40 percent Indian. Apart from a large number of islands, Fiji also has at least 500 islets. Fiji has 50 groups of hot springs and the innermost areas of many islands feature lush rainforests with an abundance of tree species, plants and wildlife. The ferocity of their lifestyle deterred European sailors from going anywhere near their coastal waters. The British are credited with introducing rugby to Fiji during the period when Fiji was under their rule. Most Fijians speak English and British English is even taught in schools. The residents of Fiji also believed that eating someone's flesh allowed one to possess their knowledge. 4. Fiji’s first settlements were started by voyaging traders and the first Europeans to land and live among the native population were shipwrecked sailors. There are also several zip line opportunities available. Bula! Fiji is home to over 4,000 square miles of coral reef, including the Great Astrolabe Reef. Fiji has 6 national parks. The residents warmly greet people they come into contact with regardless of whether or not they know each other. They called their home Viti but nearby island Tonga called it Fisi. Captain James Cook was the first to pronounce it as Fiji and his writings promulgated that name. Fiji has many soft coral reefs. 10 Surprising Facts About Fiji What comes to mind when you think of Fiji? This makes it easy for tourists and people traveling to Fiji to communicate with locals in … The first word in the native Fijian language you’ll need to learn is Bula, which means “hello”, because you will hear it everywhere. The Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park is Fiji's first National Park and was established in 1987 to protect a unqiue natural and cutural heritage site. About three quarters of the over 800,000 people live on its largest island of Viti Levu. 20 Fun Things to Do in Fiji on Your First Visit. 110 of these islands have never been inhabited. Fiji's waters are home to over 1,500 species of sea life. Kava is the name given to it by the people of Vanuatu where it’s thought to have originated before spreading throughout Oceania. 1. Fiji's territory is comprised of 332 islands although some sources have... 2) Fiji was once under British rule. Fiji’s main sources of foreign exchange are sugar exports and its thriving tourist industry, which along with its... 2. An interesting fact – sunglasses in Fiji are banned, as are hats. All Rights Reserved. They are English, ITaukei and Hindi. The descendants of the Indian laborers have succeeded in some fields such as sports and politics. The residents of Fiji hold rugby in high regard as it is the national sport. Dec 29, 2014 | Blog. With the arrival of Christian missionaries, cannibalism began to wane. Fiji gained independence from the British Empire in 1970 after 96 years as a British colony. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. Fiji Fun Facts. So while these might not be the most useful facts about Fiji, they are, in our opinion, the most fun! Tipping in Fiji can be regarded as disrespect. Fijians are very friendly and hospitable people. 1. In 1874 the British subjugated Fiji as a colony and began the large scale cultivation of sugar cane there in the 1880s. If, for example, war had been declared, Fijians would be sharpening their knives (and forks) in preparation of meeting their enemies. English is one of the subjects taught within the Fiji education system which ensures the country's residents can converse in the language. The residents of Fiji reside in 110 of the nation's biggest islands with Viti Levu having the most significant population. Fiji - Fiji - Cultural life: Fiji’s mixed ethnicity contributes to a rich cultural heritage. 20. In the past, the rugby team of Fiji performed the Cibi war dance before the beginning of each match, but it was replaced by the Bole war cry. There was a time in the past, though, when Fijians practiced cannibalism as part of a war tradition. A large section of Fiji's population traces its descent to India particularly the regions of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. If you’re planning a trip to the beautiful islands of Fiji, then you might want to learn a little bit more about it. Fiji Fun Facts 1. It consists of more than 300 islands and 540 islets that occupy an area of 1,000,000 square miles. 1-5 Fiji Facts 1. Fiji continued to be controlled by one military coup after another until a democratic election was finally held in September of 2014. This list will get you started. 3. 6. Fiji Fun Facts. Hire a boat to spend the day on the water diving in the Great Astrolabe Reef coral reefs and snorkling along the beaches. The Fiji consists of 322 islands and 520 islets. The state’s territory consists mainly of water, only 10% of the area is land. Fiji has over 4,000 square kilometers of the Great Astrolab Reef. Fiji is expecting the tourism industry to continue to grow with hopes of reaching $2.2 billion by 2020. This triggered a larger exodus of Fijians of Indian origin from the country. Village groups own over 80 percent of Fiji’s land, which is called Native Land, and use it for their village site and as a nature reserve. At nearly 200 different dialects, Fijian has more dialects spoken on the island than any of the other official languages. 1. Most visitors to Fiji can witness the tradition in some hotels and resorts throughout the island. Kava is a plant grown mostly in the Pacific Islands, it’s not only grown in Fiji. Various archaeological sites have been located with evidence to prove that the practice was widely prevalent on the island. The Fiji Islands comprise 333 islands in the South Pacific – who knew? 10. Fiji, officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean. 18. In order not to interfere with the Fijians’ native way of life, contract labor from India was brought in to work in the sugar plantations. Fiji has 28 … Fiji Fun Facts 1. The people of Fiji are some of the warmest and most welcoming in the world which regularly surprises visitors to the nation. It surrounds the Koro Sea about 1,300 miles (2,100 km) north of Auckland, New Zealand. Nearly five centuries ago on Bega Island, the Sawau tribe introduced the fire walking ceremony which would later come to be one of the most popular activities within Fiji. Fiji receives between 400,000 and 500,000 tourists annually. Traditional cooking methods consist of cooking over an open fire or in an underground oven. © 2020 TheFactFile.Org. Fun Fiji Facts! The impact of British rule in Fiji is readily visible in most areas with the national flag being one of the most notable examples. 11. Cultural facts of Fiji 21. In some regions, Kava is referred to as Yaqona. Cars, respectively, too. Fijians were formidable warriors who built some of the finest boats in the Pacific in their day and time. 2. Fiji Water once ran an ad campaign stating “The label says Fiji because it’s not bottled in Cleveland”. Fiji is better known for its beaches rather than its cuisine. Many features of traditional Fijian life survive; they are most evident in the elaborate investiture, marriage, and other ceremonies for high-ranking chiefs. The official languages of communication within Fiji, according to the nation's constitution, include English, Fijian, and Fiji Hindi. Those who enjoy outdoor adventures will find great walks and hikes in the Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park, the sandy Natadola Beach, or the Lavana Coastal walk from the beach to the waterfall. We have been leading group trips since 2014 to Ladakh, Meghalaya, Bhutan, Kashmir, Sikkim, Kerala, South East Asia and Europe. Why not start off with these 18 interesting facts about Fiji! 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