Melanesia

 

The islands of the Pacific are divided into three main groups - Melanesia which lies mostly to the south of the Equator, Micronesia which lies mainly to the north of the Equator and Polynesia which covers a huge area to the east.

An early map of the Pacific showing
Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia
Melanesia is taken from the Greek words melas which means black and nesos which means island. Melanesia includes Papua, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fiji. The people are very dark skinned with Afro hair and are thought to have their origins in East Africa migrating by ways of Indonesia.

Welcome to Melanesia! Melanesia is that special place in the Pacific that has something for everyone. Rich in resources and with a multiplicity of people with rich and diverse cultures, customs, rituals, myths and legends, the countries of Melanesia are well worth a visit.

Outline map of Melanesia, Polynesia and Micronesia
The islands of the Pacific are divided into three main groups - Melanesia which lies mostly to the south of the Equator, Micronesia which lies mainly to the north of the Equator and Polynesia which covers a huge area to the east.