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POHNPEI
Pohnpei's peaks get
plenty of rainfall annually, creating many rivers that feed
the lush upper rain forest. Its waterfalls offer a refreshing
and breathtaking experience for hikers, and there are camping
areas at some sites. This host to the nation's capital has
much to offer the visiting nature lover, explorer and hiker.
The fishing and diving around the island is superb. Surrounded
largely by rich mangrove forests, Pohnpei's jagged coastline
is intersected by numerous channels that carry nutrients
into the vast lagoon. These nutrients attract marine life
and make Pohnpei one of the most varied marine environments
in Micronesia.
Photo/Astrid Witte
and Casey Mahaney |
A short boat trip can be made to two neighboring atolls, Ant
and Pakin, which exude the aura of paradise unspoiled. Here,
the true meaning of pristine diving comes to the fore. Whether
it be riding a raging current out to sea through an island
pass or exploring a deep fan-laden chasm, the atolls are a
fantastic experience.
Pohnpei's people offer a look at family life island-style.
Communities come together to weave a new boat house or do
the daily wash. Kids frolic in the water of the rivers that
flow past the villages.
Pohnpei is also home to Nan Madol, a fortress that was built
more than one thousand years ago out of huge basalt logs.
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