diving7seas
Yap Outer Islands
( Almost ) Out of This World
The Federated States of Micronesia ( FSM ) consists of the four states of Chuuk , Kosrae , Ponpeih and Yap . Except Kosrae all so-called Outer Islands are affiliated .
There are hundreds , and even the smallest of them has a name . Some of these Outer Islands are scattered individually , others are part of an atoll , as in the case of Ulithi Atoll which is part of Yap State . There are 27 islands here alone . In addition , 71 Outer Islands are attributed to the State of Yap as well .
By no means all can be reached with even a small plane . Even the large ferry operates between those and the main island of Yap only about every six weeks . It takes several days to reach their various destinations .
Time hasn ‘ t forgotten by the remote islands , but compared to the state ‘ s main island and its small capital Colonia , they are truly a world apart . Some are reminiscent of Maldives islands – at least from the outer appearance . But that ‘ s it . Any kind of tourism , as we imagine it , is not to be found on the Outer Islands .
Photos above : Although there is a small airfield on a few islands and despite the Maldivian look here and there , tourism has not been able to develop in the Outer Islands
All photos : Paul Munzinger
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