Yap Diving

In July 1978, Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap voted to share a constitution, and in May 1979 they became the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Micronesia agreed to let the US control its relations with other countries and maintain its exclusive military access under a 15-year compact signed in 1982. In turn, the US guaranteed annual funding. The compact was officially implemented in 1986 and in 1991 the FSM was admitted to the United Nations.

Yap's big celebraton is Yap Day, in the first week of March, with plenty of colorful ceremonial dancing and sporting events. Mitmits - large feasts accompanied by the liberal distribution of gifts and ceremonial singing and dancing - are held throughout the year. One village holds a mitmit for another village, which reciprocates the following year.

While the country's total land area amounts to only 270.8 square miles, it occupies more than one million square miles of the Pacific Ocean, and ranges 1,700 miles from East (Kosrae) to West (Yap). Each of the four States centers around one or more "high islands," and all but Kosrae include numerous atolls. Yap State is made up of 4 large islands, 7 small islands and 134 atolls, with a total land area of 45.6 square miles.