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1970 establishments in OceaniaArchipelagoes of the Pacific OceanBritish Western Pacific TerritoriesChristian states

Tonga

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

A beautiful view of Nuku Island in the Vavaʻu Islands, Tonga.

Welcome to Tonga!

Tonga is a beautiful group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It is part of Oceania and has 171 islands, but only 45 of them have people living on them. The biggest island is Tongatapu, where the capital city, Nukuʻalofa, is located.

People have lived in Tonga for about 2,500 years! Long ago, it was known as the Tuʻi Tonga Empire, a strong and rich kingdom. Today, Tonga is a friendly place where people still honor old traditions. Visitors in the past, like Captain James Cook in 1773, called it the "Friendly Islands" because everyone was so welcoming.

Tonga has a warm, tropical climate, with lots of sunshine and rain. The islands are home to many interesting birds, like the Tongan whistler and flying bats called flying foxes. These animals are very important to the people of Tonga.

The country is a constitutional monarchy, which means it has a king or queen but also a government that helps make decisions. Tonga is part of many important groups, like the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Nations. People in Tonga enjoy sports, especially rugby union, and they have a strong sense of family and community.

Images

The Royal Palace in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, an important building in the country's capital city.
Historical illustration of Dutch explorers meeting people from Tonga in the 1600s, showing their canoes, fishing, and village life.
Historical painting of a welcoming ceremony in Tonga during Captain Cook's voyage in the late 1700s.
A colorful Wattled Honeyeater bird from Tonga, showing its distinctive wattles.
Portrait of King George from the Friendly Islands, painted in 1852.
Portrait of King George Tupou I of Tonga from the 1880s.
A population graph showing changes over time in Tonga.
The Free Wesleyan Church of Kolomotuʻa in Tonga, also known as Saione, is an important place of worship.
People enjoying a traditional Tongan faikava ceremony with kava, a ceremonial drink.
Historical engraving of William Mariner dressed in traditional Tongan clothing.
A colorful political map showing the island nation of Tonga in the South Pacific Ocean.
A Tongan coin called a seniti, which is equal to one-hundredth of a pa'anga.

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Tonga, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.