art of the Federated States of Micronesia, Yap is situated in the Western Carolines, between Guam and Palau. It is off the main tourist route and is made up of four main islands - Yap proper, Tomil-Gagil, Map, and Rumung, plus ten small islands, all within the boundaries of a beautiful coral reef.
The landscape consists of rolling hills with lowlands covered with thick jungle-like vegetation. Most of the coastal areas are mangrove, with occasional coral beaches. Like other FSM islands, there is a coral reef, so snorkeling is popular, as is diving, in the crystal-clear lagoon where giant manta rays are known to school year-round.
The town of Colonia on Yap Proper is the capital and is slightly more urbanized than the village areas.
Yap has 130 outer islands stretching nearly 600 miles east of Yap Island. Most of the outer islands are coral atolls and are sparsely populated by a people different from the Yapese in culture and language.
Three indigenous languages are spoken. These are Yapese, Ulithian, and Woleaian. English is the official language, though some local government organizations still conduct business in Yapese language.
Because of its position, Yap was minimally affected when the Spanish colonized Micronesia in the 1500s, and again during German occupation from the end of the 1800s to the end of World War I.
The same occurred during the Japanese occupation, so by Micronesian standards, Yap remains relat
ively unaffected by modern society. Most of the land outside of Colonia is private property, so visitors are asked not to litter or to take pictures of people without their permission.
Visitors can still see some of the traditional houses in the villages. The villages of Yap proper still retain the foundations of meeting houses and platforms used by the elder male residents to discuss community matters.
Only a limited number of visitors come to Yap each year, so the people, who are naturally shy, are more responsive to those who respect their culture and customs.
All land and beaches on Yap Proper and the outer islands are privately owned by the traditional leaders and chiefs. If you want to get off the beaten track, request to explore further by asking permission from the tribal elders. You may have to pay a small fee for the privilege.
Yap remains a distinctive destination because of the way the people value their history. The traditional dress is brightly-colored loin cloths for men, and grass or woven hibiscus skirts for women.
Yap has managed to let most of the modern world pass it by and practices Micronesia's most traditional lifestyle. Some 200 miles from Palau, Yapese warriors sailed there in centuries past, despite great danger and hardship, to quarry the giant Yapese stone money. These large circular stones, carved symmetrically and holed in the center for transportation, can be greater in diameter than a man's height. Most of the stone money is stored in a canal known as the money bank, though some still rests outside the thatched men's hut and family huts to denote wealth and status.
The stone money of Yap, though not legal tender in the international currency market, is still used as legal tender on the island. The value of these limestone, donut-shaped coins varies, though not according to size. Today the money is still owned but not moved, even though ownership may change.
