Islands Of Tuvalu
Tuvalu consists of nine separate islands, six of which are atolls. Since an atoll typically consists of several islets, there is a total of more than 124 islands and islets. The three remaining islands are actually atolls, too, but they have a completely closed rim of dry land, with a lagoon that has no connection to the open sea or that may be drying up. Each island is surrounded by a coral reef.
The nine units correspond to the nine local government districts.
The smallest island, Niulakita, was uninhabited until it was resettled by people from Niutao in 1949. Until recently, Niulakita was therefore not considered a separate local government district but administratively a part of Niutao.
| Atoll/Island | Main village |
Land area |
Total area |
Pop. |
Min. number of islets |
Number of villages |
Location | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atolls | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Funafuti | Vaiaku | 2,40 | 277 | 4 492 | 30 | 9 | 8°31′S 179°13′E / 8.517°S 179.217°E / -8.517; 179.217 | |||||||||||||||||
| Nanumea | Nanumea | 3,87 | 22 | 664 | 5 | 2 | 05°41′S 176°09′E / 5.683°S 176.15°E / -5.683; 176.15 | |||||||||||||||||
| Nui | Tanrake | 2,83 | 17 | 548 | 21 | 4 | 07°13′29″S 177°09′37″E / 7.22472°S 177.16028°E / -7.22472; 177.16028 | |||||||||||||||||
| Nukufetau | Savave | 2,99 | 145 | 586 | 33 | 2 | 08°00′S 178°22′E / 8°S 178.367°E / -8; 178.367 | |||||||||||||||||
| Nukulaelae | Fangaua | 1,82 | 43 | 393 | 15 | 2 | 09°22′52″S 179°51′08″E / 9.38111°S 179.85222°E / -9.38111; 179.85222 | |||||||||||||||||
| Vaitupu | Asau | 5,60 | 10 | 1 591 | 9 | 7 | 07°28′S 178°41′E / 7.467°S 178.683°E / -7.467; 178.683 | |||||||||||||||||
| Islands | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nanumanga | Tonga | 3,00 | 3,00 | 589 | 51) | 2 | 06°20′S 176°25′E / 6.333°S 176.417°E / -6.333; 176.417 | |||||||||||||||||
| Niulakita | Niulakita | 0,40 | 0,40 | 35 | 1 | 1 | 10°45′S 179°30′E / 10.75°S 179.5°E / -10.75; 179.5 | |||||||||||||||||
| Niutao | Kulia | 2,53 | 2,53 | 663 | 41) | 2 | 06°06′S 177°16′E / 6.1°S 177.267°E / -6.1; 177.267 | |||||||||||||||||
| Tuvalu | Vaiaku | 25,44 | 520 | 9 561 | 124 | 34 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1) main island plus islets in landlocked lagoon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
At least 11 islands are inhabited, expanded over the biggest isles of the nine atolls, plus two islands in Funafuti.
Read more about Islands Of Tuvalu: Royal Society of London Investigation of The Formation of Coral Reefs At Funafuti
Famous quotes containing the word islands:
“Consider the islands bearing the names of all the saints, bristling with forts like chestnut-burs, or Echinidæ, yet the police will not let a couple of Irishmen have a private sparring- match on one of them, as it is a government monopoly; all the great seaports are in a boxing attitude, and you must sail prudently between two tiers of stony knuckles before you come to feel the warmth of their breasts.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)