A35GC – South

The A35GC team will be in Tonga from 25 November to 6 December 2024.
Team——LZ1GC, LZ5QZ.
Nearest DX Point A35GC
A35GC Log Searchsearch They will operate on 160 – 6m, CW, SSB, FT4, FT8, RTTY.
QSL passes LZ1GC, LOTW, ClubLog OQRS.
QTH – Nuku’alofa, Tongatapu Islands, IOTA OC-049.

The Kingdom of Tonga: Secrets of the Island Monarchy

The Kingdom of Tonga is a unique monarchy located in a place that few tourists can reach: south of the Polynesian island of Samoa. The name itself hints at the country’s location, as “Tonga” means “south” in the local language. The discoverers of the region, William Schouten and Jacob Le Maire, named it after it. The legendary James Cook first visited the archipelago in 1773 and called it the “Friendship Islands”.

Hundred Islands Kingdom

The territory of this small island nation is half the size of St. Petersburg and consists of 177 islands. However, most of them are barren but picturesque land: flat plateaus or beaches submerged in tropical greenery. The origin of most of the country is attributed to volcanic activity. Plate movements helped to bring some land areas to the surface, and over time vegetation and fauna took root on them. By the way, not so long ago (2015) after an underwater eruption, the archipelago added another island, 45 km from the capital. The last surface volcanic activity was observed in the middle of the last century.

The state has a population of just over 100,000 people. 60% of them live on the main island of Tongatapu. Also located here is the kingdom’s capital, Nuku’alofa, where 40% of the population lives. Of the many islands, only 36 of the state’s 177 are inhabited. As you can imagine, there are so many deserted atolls and tectonic ledges to explore for those who dare to board a boat.

South. Author- Seti Afua.

What is life like for you in the Friendship Islands?

The Kingdom of Tonga is closely connected to its rich cultural heritage. At the same time, the local population is open to fashion and modern progress. In particular, its literacy rate is one of the highest in the world: 98.9%. The commonly used local dialect is Tongan. The second official language is English. It is a mandatory education for young people. On the contrary, middle-aged people, especially the elderly, are unlikely to explain anything to guests in English.

The islands are far from the center of world civilization and have few mineral deposits, which has a huge impact on the level of socio-economic development. Goods, materials and petroleum products that most people are familiar with must be imported from China, Fiji, Samoa and Australia. Therefore, the difficulty of transportation inevitably leads to an increase in the cost of these items. This is why 99.99% of the buildings on the islands are made of wood – there is simply no stone suitable for construction. The most popular means of transportation is the bicycle, also because of the conservation of resources.

But the Tongans have a unique perspective and great respect for age-old traditions.

Developed under British protection, the Kingdom of Tonga has never actively participated in confrontations and military conflicts, except for a brief deployment of a Tongan contingent in World War I. In 1970, the Tongans gained independence, but they never thought of overthrowing the monarch. Although the King’s residence is the only one in the world built entirely of wood, the ruler’s personality is considered sacred here. They rule here like monarchs do – for life. The name of the odious Fatafehi ​​Paulaha, who ruled the archipelago from 1770 to 1784, is associated with the monarch’s obscene right to be the first to deprive the innocence of his fellow women. In total, the compassionate king helped more than 37,000 of his subjects become women. By the way, James Cook gave him a tortoise, which lived in the royal gardens for almost 200 years.

Blowholes in Tonga. Author – Keith O’Brien.

The original Tongan beauty standards

Today, many traditions dating back to ancient times are still preserved on the island. For example, those who attended the king’s funeral were placed in special houses for 100 days and were not allowed to touch anything. It was believed that the honor of burying the king was sacred and nothing could taint the palms of those who saw him off on his last journey. By the way, in the old days, the hands of the entourage were chopped off. Forty days of the year are civil celebrations and national holidays. But every Sunday, the entire population of the kingdom does not work. Everything is definitely closed, because this custom is enshrined in royal law. In general, the good vibe here is to not rush!

Interestingly, the girls here are quite fat – plumpness is considered a sign of beauty and health. Ethnically, the population is 96% local. However, the businesses that do not develop much here are owned by native Chinese. Therefore, the Chinese are not welcome here and are ridiculed, just like Jews in Slavic countries. There is almost no crime in this island country. But the main problem of the country is the population’s access to fresh water. Even rainwater is used for storage and purification! The biggest danger for a careless citizen is a ripe coconut falling on his head. They ripen all year round and grow everywhere!

Sunset, Ewa Island, Tonga. Author – Russell Charters.

Tonga’s unpredictable weather

Tropical typhoons that regularly hit the archipelago disrupt daily life. The best time to visit Tonga is the dry season, from May to October. Most national holidays and festivals are during this period. You should remember that the climate here is uneven, the further you are from the equator, the more unstable it is and the lower the temperature. The average temperature here is 26.6˚.

The colorful kingdom brings festive atmosphere to everyone!

What makes this island nation so attractive for tourists? It is quite difficult and expensive to get here: it is accessible by plane from Fiji, New Zealand and Australia. However, the effort will be rewarded with many wonderful impressions! In addition to its rich cultural heritage and friendly environment, Tonga certainly has some incredibly beautiful beaches, almost without people. Snorkeling (snorkeling) and diving are also very popular. Naturalists come here to observe the noble whale population with their own eyes. Renting a boat, you can explore the mysteries of the picturesque uninhabited islands alone, one of which offers complete seclusion. Haapai Island is famous for its small circle. This atoll delights with white soft sands, breathtakingly beautiful landscapes and the quiet serenity of the waves along the coast.

One of the best-known secrets of the archipelago is the Tonga Trough: it is the deepest point on Earth in the Southern Hemisphere (10.8 km). Only a short stay on the surface of such a deep abyss can inspire the imagination. Another secret of the archipelago is Haamonga-a-Maui (Tonga Gate). The origins of the megalithic structure have a sacred meaning. Surfing, kayaking, diving and a leisurely holiday without the pressure of dating… everyone will find something different in the Kingdom of Tonga! This is a fascinating country where time seems to have frozen at the crossroads of civilizations and eras!

A35GC. Where is Tonga located. Map.