Comprised of more than 300 volcanic and coral islands, the Fiji archipelago is at the crossroads 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. More recently, Fiji’s tropical climate and location on Pacific air routes have made it a prime spot for tourists.

However, a coup by indigenous Fijians in 1987, followed by a further coup in 2000, caused immense harm to the tourism industry and to Fiji’s international reputation. Rancour over the 2000 coup persists, with bitter divisions over a proposed bill that would give amnesties to those involved in it. Although the islands now enjoy reasonable stability, nothing has been done to address the underlying causes of Fiji’s political problems.

Fiji’s population, which resides mostly on the two main islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, is divided almost equally between indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians, the descendants of indentured laborers brought from India. Mixing between the two groups is minimal, and informal segregation runs deep at almost every level of society.

Despite the troubled past of the archipelago, Fijians are known as some of the friendliest people in the world. They are not judgmental of other people and will rarely express a negative opinion. Customs still prevail in the more traditional villages, especially those distant from towns and urban centers. And of course, Fiji is where the Cloud Breaker, the incredible six-meter wave was found offshore at Tavarua, a place which still draws surfers from around the world.

Geography
Fiji is located in the South Pacific, 3,000km (1,875 miles) east of Australia and approximately 1,930km (1,200 miles) south of the equator. It comprises 322 islands, 105 of which are uninhabited (some are little more than rugged limestone islets or tiny coral atolls). The three largest are Viti Levu (Great Fiji), Vanua Levu (Great Land of the People), both of which are extinct volcanoes rising abruptly from the sea, and Taveuni. There are thousands of streams and small rivers in Fiji, the largest being the Rewa River on Viti Levu, which is navigable for 128km (80 miles). Mount Victoria, also on Viti Levu, is the country’s highest peak, at 1,322m (4,430ft).