The Republic of the Fiji Islands,  or Fiji, is an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Vanuatu, west  of Tonga and south of Tuvalu. The country occupies an archipelago with two  sizable islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, where the majority of inhabitants  live, and is joined by over eight hundred islands, with about one hundred  regularly inhabited. The name Fiji is the old Tongan word for the islands, which  is turn derived from the Fijian name Viti.  
 
 
 Fiji consists of  322 islands, of which about one third are inhabited. The two most important  islands are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. Viti Levu hosts the capital city of Suva,  and is home to nearly three quarters of the population. The islands are  mountainous, with peaks up to 1200 m, and covered with tropical forests. Other  important towns include Nadi, (location of the international airport) as well as  Labasa, Lautoka, and Savusavu. Other islands and island groups include Taveuni  and Kadavu (the third and fourth largest islands respectively, the Mamanuca  Group (just outside Nadi) and Yasawa Group, which are popular tourist  destinations, the Lomaiviti Group, outside of Suva, and the remote Lau Group.   
 
 
 
 Fiji consists of  322 islands, of which about one third are inhabited. The two most important  islands are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. Viti Levu hosts the capital city of Suva,  and is home to nearly three quarters of the population. The islands are  mountainous, with peaks up to 1200 m, and covered with tropical forests. Other  important towns include Nadi, (location of the international airport) as well as  Labasa, Lautoka, and Savusavu. Other islands and island groups include Taveuni  and Kadavu (the third and fourth largest islands respectively, the Mamanuca  Group (just outside Nadi) and Yasawa Group, which are popular tourist  destinations, the Lomaiviti Group, outside of Suva, and the remote Lau Group.  .
