naturalists, and Pangaimotu Island which is just a 10 minute boat trip from the Nuku'alofa wharf.
The people
Polynesians by race, the local population speaks Tongan and English. The majority of Tonga's 100, 000 people live on Tongatapu.
History
Archaeologists claim that Tonga has been inhabited since the 5th century BC. It was first discovered by Dutch navigators in 1616. They were followed by Tasman, Wallis, Captain Cook, Bligh of the Bounty (whose sailors mutineered in Tongan waters) and the missionaries. Formerly a British protectorate, Tonga gained its independence in 1970 and is now part of the British Commonwealth.
Nature Vegetation includes hibiscus, frangipani, coconut groves, pandanus palms and banana plantations. Not far from Nuku'alofa, thousands of flying foxes make their home at Kolovai.
Frigate birds are common, as are the Pacific golden plover, the Pacific black duck, swiftlets (Pacific swallows) and the blue crowned lorikeet. Tonga was the first Pacific island country to create marine parks or sanctuaries. Four such parks now exist which are rich in fish, coral and marine life.
The sights
There are miles of white, sandy beaches fronting clear lagoons which hold some of the most beautiful and varied reefs in the
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