Tonga

The Kingdom of Tonga is an island nation in Polynesia, part of Oceania. The country consists of 171 islands, 45 of which are inhabited. With a total land area of approximately 750 square kilometers, Tonga is spread across 700,000 square kilometers of ocean, making it one of the most dispersed countries in the world. The capital, Nuku'alofa, is situated on the island of Tongatapu, which is the largest island in the archipelago. The city is home to the Royal Palace, the official residence of the King of Tonga, as well as the National Parliament and many government ministries. Tonga's unique cultural heritage is a blend of ancient Polynesian traditions and modern influences. The country is home to many ancient monuments, including the Ha'amonga 'a Maui Trilithon, a stone archway built in the 13th century, and the Langi Tombs, a collection of ancient royal tombs. Tonga is home to the Tongan tropical moist forest terrestrial ecoregion. This unique ecosystem, characterized by high temperatures and high levels of rainfall, is dominated by dense forests of tropical tree species. The rich biodiversity of this ecoregion is a result of the archipelago's geographical isolation, which has allowed endemic species to evolve independently over millions of years. It is home to a wide range of endemic species, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth. The Tongan Megapode, a large ground-dwelling bird, is one such example. Other unique species include the Tongan Whistler, the Tongan Fruit Bat and the Pacific Tree Boa, a non-venomous snake found only in the tropical forests of Tonga.