What is Gilbert and Ellice Islands?
[[Image:Stamp Gilbert Ellice Islands 1939 3p.jpg|right|200px|thumb|3-pence [[stamp]] of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, 1939]] The '''Gilbert and Ellice Islands''' were a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[protectorate]] from 1892 and [[Colonialism|colony]] from 12 January 1916. They are formed from two groups of [[island]]s in the [[Pacific Ocean]]. On 1 January 1976 the islands were split into two different colonies that became independent states. The [[Gilbert Islands]] have been the biggest part of the nation of [[Kiribati]] since 1979, and the [[Ellice Islands]] became [[Tuvalu]] in 1978. {{geo-stub}} [[Category:Islands of Kiribati]] [[Category:Pacific islands]] [[Category:History of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:19th-century establishments in the British Empire]] [[Category:19th-century establishments in Oceania]] [[Category:Former colonies in Oceania]] [[Category:1976 disestablishments]] [[Category:Disestablishments in Oceania]] [[Category:Former British colonies]] [[Category:States and territories disestablished in the 20th century]] [[Category:1890s establishments in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:1892 establishments in Europe]] [[Category:1970s disestablishments in the United Kingdom]]