TONGA

In the Series Premiere, Shebbie travels to the island of Tonga where she gets out of her head and into the water, encountering some of the planet’s most impressive wildlife along the way.

Inside The Episode: Tonga

History:

The Kingdom of Tonga is located in the South Pacific Ocean and is made up of over 160 distinct islands.

For over 3,000 years, human beings have lived on the Tongan islands, developing a unique culture and heritage. Little is known about Tongan history prior to its discovery by Western powers in the 1600’s and the subsequent introduction of writing systems.

The islands received the moniker, The Friendly Islands, when Captain Cooke was warmly received by the Tongan people in 1773.

It wasn’t until 1845 that Tonga was formally unified under the rule of Tāufaʻāhau I, with the boundaries we see today.

Geology:

The islands of Tonga can be divided into two, distinct geological regions: the volcanic western islands, known as the Tongan Volcanic Arc and the non-volcanic eastern islands.

Wildlife:

Satellite image of the volcanic, caldera island of Niuafo’ou

Tonga is known primarily for its rich aquatic wildlife. Spinner dolphins, pygmy killer whales, and humpback whales are just some of the amazing aquatic animals that call the waters of Tonga their home.

Given Tonga’s geological history as emerging islands, there are no native land animals - only those that have migrated to the islands in the last several thousand years.

Humpback Whales:

Each year, thousands of whales swim through the islands of Tonga as part of their annual migration from the colder feeding grounds of the Antarctic. This mass migration gives visitors to Tonga the opportunity to see these massive mammals up close.

Tonga is one of the few places in the world in which divers are allowed to swim alongside the humpback whales.