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Descriptor English: Tonga
Descriptor Spanish: Tonga
Descriptor Tonga
Scope note: Archipiélago de la Polinesia en la parte suroccidental del Océano Pacifico que comprende unas 150 islas. Se trata de un reino cuya capital es Nukualofa. Fue descubierta por los holandeses en 1616, visitada por Tasman en 1643 y por el Capitán Cook en 1773 y 1777. El reino moderno fue establecido durante el reinado del Rey George Tupou I, 1845-93. Se convirtió en protectorado británico en 1900 y logró su independencia en 1970. El nombre Tonga puede ser de origen local, que significa isla o sagrado. Su otro nombre, Friendly Islands, fue dado por el Capitán Cook por la bienvenida que le fue dada por los nativos. (Traducción libre del original: Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p1219 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p549)
Descriptor Portuguese: Tonga
Descriptor French: Tonga
Tree number(s): Z01.639.760.815.890
RDF Unique Identifier: https://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/D014058
Scope note: An archipelago in Polynesia in the southwest Pacific Ocean, comprising about 150 islands. It is a kingdom whose capital is Nukualofa. It was discovered by the Dutch in 1616, visited by Tasman in 1643, and by Captain Cook in 1773 and 1777. The modern kingdom was established during the reign of King George Tupou I, 1845-93. It became a British protectorate in 1900 and gained independence in 1970. The name Tonga may be of local origin, meaning either island or holy. Its other name, Friendly Islands, was given by Captain Cook from the welcome given him by the natives. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p1219 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p549)
Annotation: an island group in Polynesia
Allowable Qualifiers: EH ethnology
EP epidemiology
History Note: 75
DeCS ID: 14448
Unique ID: D014058
Documents indexed in the Virtual Health Library (VHL): Click here to access the VHL documents
Date Established: 1975/01/01
Date of Entry: 1974/11/11
Revision Date: 2012/07/03
Tonga - Preferred
Concept UI M0021654
Scope note An archipelago in Polynesia in the southwest Pacific Ocean, comprising about 150 islands. It is a kingdom whose capital is Nukualofa. It was discovered by the Dutch in 1616, visited by Tasman in 1643, and by Captain Cook in 1773 and 1777. The modern kingdom was established during the reign of King George Tupou I, 1845-93. It became a British protectorate in 1900 and gained independence in 1970. The name Tonga may be of local origin, meaning either island or holy. Its other name, Friendly Islands, was given by Captain Cook from the welcome given him by the natives. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p1219 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p549)
Preferred term Tonga



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