Pohnpei [key], state and island (1991 est. pop. 52,000), 129 sq mi (334 sq km), W Pacific, in the E Caroline Islands. It is one of four states comprising the Federated States of Micronesia. A volcanic island, Pohnpei is a flat dome of black basaltic rock, rising to 2,595 ft (791 m), with a rim of fertile coastal land. The national capital, Palikir, is in NW Pohnpei. Copra, dried bonito, and handicrafts are the chief products. Ruins of ancient stone walls, dikes, and basaltic columns dot the island; the most impressive, those of Nan Madol (mainly 13th–17th cent.), are constructed on artificial islands. Pohnpei was formerly called Ponape and Ascension Island.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Pacific Islands Political Geography
