Journey North Mystery Class Spring 2005

Introducing Mystery Class #9--Suva, Fiji
(18.133 S, 178.417 E)

Bula! (Welcome) from Suva, Fiji
	Greetings from the nation of Fiji, known officially as the Republic of the Fiji.

Fiji is ideally located in the tropics of the southern hemisphere. It lies on the 180 Meridian (a/k/a the International Date Line) where the dawning of each new day occurs. Fiji enjoys an ideal South Sea tropical climate and can get hot in the summer but seldom reaches above 35°C (96°F). Trade winds from the east southeast bring year long cooling breezes late afternoon and early evening. The rainy season for our tropical rains is from December through February coinciding with our warmest summer months.

We are a beautiful group of more than 330 tropical islands in the South Pacific Ocean, located about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand.

Our nation became an independent country in 1970, after almost a century of being a colony of Britain. By size, Fiji is approximately 18,720 sq km, which is slightly smaller than the state of New Jersey. Our terrain is mostly mountains of volcanic origin, and our lowest elevation is sea level, with our highest being Mt. Momanivi at approximately 1,324 m in elevation.

Our population is approximately 888,000, and we are generally comprised of Fijian 51% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indian 44%, European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5% (1998 est.)

Religiously, our population is made up of Christian 52% (Methodist 37%, Roman Catholic 9%), Hindu 38%, Muslim 8%, other 2% note: Fijians are mainly Christian, Indians are Hindu, and there is a Muslim minority (1986)

As for languages, our population speaks several languages including English (official), Fijian, and Hindustani.

Our flag is light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag;
	The shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the cross of Saint George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove .

Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one of the most developed of the Pacific island economies, though we still have a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports and a growing tourist industry - with 300,000 to 400,000 tourists annually - are the major sources of foreign exchange. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity.

Suva--our Nation's Capital City!
Our secret Mystery Class location is the capital city of Suva, which is found on the largest of the Fiji Islands, known as Viti Levu.

The city of Suva is found along the southeast coast of Viti Levu.

Suva is a very signigicant hub of shipping and commercial activity for the S Pacific, including such things as the manufacture of coconut oil and soap, the exporting of sugar, gold and fruits. And tourism is a major industry too for Suva.

Suva is a very signigicant hub of shipping and commercial activity

Suva became the capital of Fiji in the late 1800's, and it is now home to the tallest building in Fiji.

Suva's Reserve Bank of Fiji Building--the tallest in our Nation.

In 2005, Fiji won the Melrose Cup rugby championship for the second year in a row.

Here are some Suva citizens celebrating the Melrose Cup win.

We hope your enjoyed learning about our nation and our city. We were very excited to be a secret Mystery Class this year!