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Tonga is the first country to grace the globe west of the International Dateline, lying as it does at about 175o West and 20o South.
With an actual land mass of only 750 square kilometres, it is an archipelago of 170 islands spread over 360,000 square kilometres of Pacific Ocean.
The islands are a fascinating mixture of rugged volcanic mountains and coral atolls - often with the coral beaches fringing the imposing volcanic structure. However, as a rule, the eastern islands, including the main island of Tongatapu, are atolls, while the western islands are more volcanic.
Political map - 1989(135Kb) | CIA World Factbook Map
fast facts
Tonga runs on 240V, 50Hz power, though some hotels also have outlets for 110V.
Time is almost irrelevant in Tonga, as the relaxed atmosphere makes the hustle and bustle of modern life seem ridiculous in perspective. However, for those who care, Tonga is where time begins each day - 12 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and 18 hours ahead of New York.
The local Tongan currency is the pa'anga, which is made up of 100 seniti. There are approximately 1.3 pa'anga in one US dollar.
Currency Converter.
The capital of Tonga is Nuku'alofa ('Abode of Love') is set on a scenic promontory. It is the largest town, chief port and administrative hub of Tonga. Home to 20% of the population, it is also the home of the King and the parliament.
Tonga is an agriculture and fisheries based economy, with sales of squash to Japan providing the bulk of export income. Fish and fish products are an important part of the economy, as are coconuts, bananas and vanilla beans.
 For useful Tonga links, visit our Links page.
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