The Fiji Islands is an independent nation, officially known as The Sovereign Democratic Republic of Fiji consists of an archipelago surrounding the Koro Sea in the South Pacific Ocean, between longitudes 175° East and 178° West and latitudes 15° and 22° South.
It is about 2,100 kilometers north of Auckland, N.Z. It forms part of the Melanesian cultural area. The archipelago consists of some 332 islands scattered over about 3,000,000 square kilometers is at the cross roads of the South Pacific.
In the days of sailing ships it was known as The Cannibal Isles and carefully avoided by mariners because of its fierce warriors and treacherous waters.However, in the age of jumbo jets and global travel. Fiji has become the central hub of the exotic South Pacific. More than 85 flights land at Nadi on the main island of Viti levu every week. From there it is only a quick seven minute hop to one of the offshore island resorts, or less than an hour of flying time to Vanua Levu or Taveuni, the second and third largest islands, where then outside world is quickly left behind. Of the 330 islands, about 100 are inhabited. The total land area is 18,333 square kilometers. The capital, Suva, is on the southeast coast of the largest island, Viti Levu ("Big Fiji"). Fiji includes within its borders Rotuma, an island of 18 square miles located about 650 kilometers north-northwest of Suva; Rotuma has a Polynesian population and was administered from the Fiji Islands in colonial times. The 1996 population census recorded 775,077 persons.
he second and third largest islands, where then outside world is quickly left behind. Of the 330 islands, about 100 are inhabited. The total land area is 
