I.

Introduction

Marshall Islands, archipelago and republic, part of Micronesia in the Pacific Ocean. The country consists of 34 islands scattered over 1.3 million sq km (500,000 sq mi) and clustered in two main groups: the south-eastern Ratak Chain and the north-western Ralik Chain. The islands are atolls and other coral reef islands; Kwajalein is the largest atoll and Majuro the capital atoll. Majuro's settlements of Dalap, Uliga, and Darrit are the largest in the republic. The republic’s capital is Dalap-Uliga-Darrit. The total land area is 181 sq km (70 sq mi).