European Contacts
Spaniards arrived in 1668. Spain sold the islands to Germany in 1885 following the loss of her Empire in Philippines. The islands were briefly occupied by Germany, but were given to Japan after the first world war as a League of Nations Mandate, then conquered by the US during the second world war and administered as a UN Trust Territory.

Federated states of Micronesia consist of Yap, Truk, Pohnpei (Ponape) and Kosrae, all in the Caroline Islands.

There are constitutional problems as the US wishes to use the islands for various military purposes, including storage and destruction of poison gas and radioactive wastes whereas the Islanders wish to vote for a constitution which forbids these uses of their land. The US desire is probably contrary to the terms of the UN trusteeship. Perhaps the ending of the Cold War may resolve this dispute.

Admitted to membership of the UN in September 1991.

Main source of income is US subsidy.

Most of the constituent islands are vulnerable to rising sea levels.

One degree
Rising sea level may make the atolls unusable

Two degrees
Most of the land will disappear under rising sea level