The kingdom of Tonga is made up of two parallel island systems.¹⁾

The only Polynesian nation that has never been under European colonial rule is the Kingdom of Tonga.²⁾

Over 200 miles of the Pacific Ocean's coastline are covered by the island chains that make up the country of Tonga.³⁾

Nuku'alofa serves as Tonga's capital.⁴⁾

Children are frequently raised by elder relatives rather than by their birth parents in Tongan communities.⁵⁾

Most Tongans still live the same way they have for hundreds of years, largely through subsistence farming.⁶⁾

For the majority of Tongans, praying frequently and singing religious songs are everyday rituals.⁷⁾

There are active volcanoes on four of Tonga's islands.⁸⁾

The greatest air explosion ever seen occurred on January 15, 2022, during the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai volcano. Amazingly, there were just three deaths that were reported.⁹⁾

There are two man-made islands in the Tonga nation.¹⁰⁾

Tongans respect others by avoiding direct eye contact.¹¹⁾

At a traditional Tongan feast, guests eat off of woven mats rather than plates or other flatware.¹²⁾

Palangi, which literally translates to “people from the sky”, is the Tongan name for white people from Western civilizations.¹³⁾

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints make up more than half of the Tongan population (Mormons).¹⁴⁾

Over the past few centuries, the Tongan island of Fonuafo'ou has vanished and reappeared multiple times; it is presently completely buried in the sea.¹⁵⁾