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Concept information

Geographic Locations > Islands > Pacific Islands > Polynesia > Tonga
... > Biological Phenomena > Ecological and Environmental Phenomena > Environment > Islands > Pacific Islands > Polynesia > Tonga
... > Environment and Public Health > Environment > Islands > Pacific Islands > Polynesia > Tonga
... > Geographic Locations > Oceania > Australasia > Pacific Islands > Polynesia > Tonga

Preferred term

Tonga  

Type

  • mesh:Descriptor

Definition

  • An archipelago in Polynesia in the southwest Pacific Ocean, comprising about 150 islands. It is a kingdom whose capital is Nukualofa. It was discovered by the Dutch in 1616, visited by Tasman in 1643, and by Captain Cook in 1773 and 1777. The modern kingdom was established during the reign of King George Tupou I, 1845-93. It became a British protectorate in 1900 and gained independence in 1970. The name Tonga may be of local origin, meaning either island or holy. Its other name, Friendly Islands, was given by Captain Cook from the welcome given him by the natives. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p1219 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p549)

Broader concept

Allowable Qualifier(s)

In other languages

  • Tonga

    French

  • Iles des Amis
  • Îles des amis

URI

http://data.loterre.fr/ark:/67375/JVR-C03FV1F9-C

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RDF/XML TURTLE JSON-LD Created 11/11/74, last modified 7/3/12