The island group of Melanesia is one of three main groups of islands in the Pacific Ocean. This group is located mostly south of the equator, and east of Austraila. Bismarck Archipelago, Fiji, New Caledonia, New Guinea (Papua and Papua New Guinea), the Maluku Islands, the Solomon Islands, the Torres Strait Islands, and Vanuatu are the main island groups that make up Melanesia. The islands of Flores, Nauru, Sumba, Timor, Halmahera, Alor, and Pantar are often thought to be part of the Melanesia region as well, although the residents there do not usually identify themselves with it.
As much as the culture of each of the islands in the Melanesia region differs from one another, so do they possess a great deal of diversity internally. Many of the tribes reside in remote costal areas, and there has traditionally been very little contact between them resulting in a vast diversity of language and culture on the same island. Although some areas of Melanesia suffered the European dominations that affected other island groups in the area, much of the region did not. As a result, there are many tribes today that live much like their ancestors did. In recent years, however, tourism has resulted in a greater amount of western influence affecting these areas. In the larger cities, of course, western influence is quite abundant and the people there enjoy the modern conveniences and challenges that influence has provided.
