Geography
The island has an area of 77,5 km² and a circumference of c. 50 km. Its highest point is Mount Lulu Fakahega (131 m). There are also a handful of large lakes such as Lake Lalolalo, a sign of the island's volcanic origin, some of them almost perfect circles and with straight vertical walls, like Lalolalo, Lanu'tavake.
Uvea is located 240 km northeast of Futuna and Alofi islands. Together with some 15 smaller islands surrounding it, on its huge barrier reef, it forms the Wallis archipelago. Wallis has a fertile volcanic soil and sufficient rainfall to allow subsistence farming.
Uvea sub-divides into 3 district (from north to south):
- Hihifo : 5 Villages : Vailala, Tufuone, Vaitupu, Malae, and Alele.
- Hahake : 6 Villages : Liku, Aka'aka, Mata-Utu, Ahoa, Falaleu, and Ha'afuasia.
- Mu'a : 10 Villages : Lavegahau, Tepa, Gahi, Ha’atofo, Mala’efo’ou, Kolopo, Halalo, Utufua, Vaimalau, and Teesi.
| District (meaning) | Capital | Area (km²) |
Population Census 2003 |
Villages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hihifo (west) | Vaitupu | 23.4 | 2422 | 5 |
| Hahake (east) | Matāʻutu | 27.8 | 3950 | 6 |
| Mu'a (first) | Mala'efo'ou (1) | 26.3 | 3699 | 10 |
| 'Uvea (Wallis) chiefdom | Matāʻutu | 77.5 | 10071 | 21 |
(1) formerly called Mua
Read more about this topic: Wallis (island)
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