Republic of Vanuatu
is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago is located some 1,750 km east of Australia, 500 km north-east of New Caledonia, west of Fiji and south of the Solomon Islands. It was named New Hebrides during its colonial period. Many of the islands of Vanuatu have been inhabited for thousands of years, the oldest archaeological evidence found dating to 2000 BC. In 1605, the Portuguese explorer Pedro Fernández de Quirós became the first European to reach the islands, believing it to be part of Terra Australis. Europeans began settling the islands in the late 18th century, after British explorer James Cook visited the islands on his second voyage, and gave them the name New Hebrides. In 1887, the islands began to be administered by a French-British naval commission. Vanuatu is an archipelago of 83 islands, of which two — Matthew and Hunter — are also claimed by the French overseas department of New Caledonia. Of all the 83 islands, 14 have surface areas of more than 100 square kilometers. Most of the islands are mountainous and of volcanic origin, and have a tropical or sub-tropical climate. The nation's largest towns are the capital Port Vila, which is situated on Efate, and Luganville, on Espiritu Santo. The highest point in Vanuatu is Mount Tabwemasana, at 1879 m (6158 ft), on the island of Espiritu Santo. There are several active volcanoes in Vanuatu, including Yasur on the island of Tanna, one of the world’s most accesible volcanoes, as well as several underwater ones. The economy is based primarily on subsistence or small-scale agriculture, which provides a living for 65% of the population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism (with about 60,000 visitors in 2005), are other mainstays of the economy. Most of the inhabitants of Vanuatu (98.5%) are native Melanesian, or Ni-Vanuatu, with the remainder of the population made up of Europeans, Asians and other Pacific islanders. Source: www.vanuatuhktc.org
is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago is located some 1,750 km east of Australia, 500 km north-east of New Caledonia, west of Fiji and south of the Solomon Islands. It was named New Hebrides during its colonial period. Many of the islands of Vanuatu have been inhabited for thousands of years, the oldest archaeological evidence found dating to 2000 BC. In 1605, the Portuguese explorer Pedro Fernández de Quirós became the first European to reach the islands, believing it to be part of Terra Australis. Europeans began settling the islands in the late 18th century, after British explorer James Cook visited the islands on his second voyage, and gave them the name New Hebrides. In 1887, the islands began to be administered by a French-British naval commission. Vanuatu is an archipelago of 83 islands, of which two — Matthew and Hunter — are also claimed by the French overseas department of New Caledonia. Of all the 83 islands, 14 have surface areas of more than 100 square kilometers. Most of the islands are mountainous and of volcanic origin, and have a tropical or sub-tropical climate. The nation's largest towns are the capital Port Vila, which is situated on Efate, and Luganville, on Espiritu Santo. The highest point in Vanuatu is Mount Tabwemasana, at 1879 m (6158 ft), on the island of Espiritu Santo. There are several active volcanoes in Vanuatu, including Yasur on the island of Tanna, one of the world’s most accesible volcanoes, as well as several underwater ones. The economy is based primarily on subsistence or small-scale agriculture, which provides a living for 65% of the population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism (with about 60,000 visitors in 2005), are other mainstays of the economy. Most of the inhabitants of Vanuatu (98.5%) are native Melanesian, or Ni-Vanuatu, with the remainder of the population made up of Europeans, Asians and other Pacific islanders. Source: www.vanuatuhktc.org
Port Vila
and largest town of the republic of Vanuatu, southwestern Pacific Ocean. Port-Vila is located on Mélé Bay, on the southwest coast of Éfaté, and is the commercial centre of the island group. Although the town is French in appearance, the population is multinational, including ni-Vanuatu, British, French, Chinese, and Vietnamese. An active commercial port, the town has hospitals, hotels, casinos, markets and shopping districts, a sports stadium, a cultural centre, a teacher-training institution, a campus of the University of the South Pacific, and several meat- and fish-processing plants. Bauerfield, just outside the town, is the major international airport of Vanuatu. Port-Vila served as a base for Allied forces in World War II. A strong offshore earthquake caused widespread damage to the town and surrounding area in January 2002. In March 2015 Cyclone Pam, a category 5 (highest-intensity) tropical cyclone, devastated the town once again. Its winds, at speeds up to 185 miles (300 km) per hour, ruined or razed homes and businesses throughout Port-Vila and caused similarly severe damage throughout the islands. Pop. (2009) 44,040. Source: www.britannica.com
and largest town of the republic of Vanuatu, southwestern Pacific Ocean. Port-Vila is located on Mélé Bay, on the southwest coast of Éfaté, and is the commercial centre of the island group. Although the town is French in appearance, the population is multinational, including ni-Vanuatu, British, French, Chinese, and Vietnamese. An active commercial port, the town has hospitals, hotels, casinos, markets and shopping districts, a sports stadium, a cultural centre, a teacher-training institution, a campus of the University of the South Pacific, and several meat- and fish-processing plants. Bauerfield, just outside the town, is the major international airport of Vanuatu. Port-Vila served as a base for Allied forces in World War II. A strong offshore earthquake caused widespread damage to the town and surrounding area in January 2002. In March 2015 Cyclone Pam, a category 5 (highest-intensity) tropical cyclone, devastated the town once again. Its winds, at speeds up to 185 miles (300 km) per hour, ruined or razed homes and businesses throughout Port-Vila and caused similarly severe damage throughout the islands. Pop. (2009) 44,040. Source: www.britannica.com
Tanna island
part of the Southern District of Vanuatu, a southwestern Pacific archipelago once called the New Hebrides. James Cook, the first European to visit this part of Melanesia, gave Tanna its name in 1774-"Tanna," in many of the island's languages, actually means "ground" or "land." The island is 40 kilometers long by 27 kilometers wide at its broadest point, with a total area of 561 square kilometers. A well-populated central plateau (Middle Bush) rises in the south to mountains more than 1,000 meters high. The island is mostly tropical forest, except for a grassy plain in the northwest that lies in the rain shadow of the mountains. In the east, a small but continuously eruptive cinder-cone volcano coughs up lava bombs and spreads volcanic ash across the island. Although the archaeological record has yet to be fully explored, it is thought that oceangoing Melanesians first landed on Tanna about 3,500 years ago. The island has also experienced considerable Polynesian influence. The Tannese are swidden horticulturalists. Using hand tools, they clear and burn off plots for yams and taro, ritually the two most important staples. They also grow manioc, sweet potatoes, bananas, and a range of other fruits and vegetables. Thanks to fertilizing ash falls from lasur volcano, garden-plot fallow time is quite short. Domestic animals include pigs, dogs, fowl, and also introduced cattle and horses. The average family's annual cash income, however, is less than $500 [U.S.]. Source: www.encyclopedia.com
Tanna: The Oscar-worthy film inspired by a Vanuatu tribal song
… the film is based on an actual incident which roiled the island of Tanna in Vanuatu, which it is named after…In the 1980s, a young couple from two different tribes had fallen in love and wanted to marry. But their tribes were vehemently against it. The lovers eventually killed themselves, an act which profoundly shook the community…The movie's entire cast is made up of non-professional actors - all of them are tribespeople. In fact, none of them had actually watched a movie before the filmmakers arrived. Source: www.bbc.com
part of the Southern District of Vanuatu, a southwestern Pacific archipelago once called the New Hebrides. James Cook, the first European to visit this part of Melanesia, gave Tanna its name in 1774-"Tanna," in many of the island's languages, actually means "ground" or "land." The island is 40 kilometers long by 27 kilometers wide at its broadest point, with a total area of 561 square kilometers. A well-populated central plateau (Middle Bush) rises in the south to mountains more than 1,000 meters high. The island is mostly tropical forest, except for a grassy plain in the northwest that lies in the rain shadow of the mountains. In the east, a small but continuously eruptive cinder-cone volcano coughs up lava bombs and spreads volcanic ash across the island. Although the archaeological record has yet to be fully explored, it is thought that oceangoing Melanesians first landed on Tanna about 3,500 years ago. The island has also experienced considerable Polynesian influence. The Tannese are swidden horticulturalists. Using hand tools, they clear and burn off plots for yams and taro, ritually the two most important staples. They also grow manioc, sweet potatoes, bananas, and a range of other fruits and vegetables. Thanks to fertilizing ash falls from lasur volcano, garden-plot fallow time is quite short. Domestic animals include pigs, dogs, fowl, and also introduced cattle and horses. The average family's annual cash income, however, is less than $500 [U.S.]. Source: www.encyclopedia.com
Tanna: The Oscar-worthy film inspired by a Vanuatu tribal song
… the film is based on an actual incident which roiled the island of Tanna in Vanuatu, which it is named after…In the 1980s, a young couple from two different tribes had fallen in love and wanted to marry. But their tribes were vehemently against it. The lovers eventually killed themselves, an act which profoundly shook the community…The movie's entire cast is made up of non-professional actors - all of them are tribespeople. In fact, none of them had actually watched a movie before the filmmakers arrived. Source: www.bbc.com
Yasur Volcano
is the most well known volcanoes of Vanuatu and one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Yasur is known for its spectacular persistent strombolian activity that consists of regular small to violent explosions from one or several vents. Yasur, the best-known and most frequently visited of the Vanuatu volcanoes, has been in more-or-less continuous strombolian and vulcanian activity since Captain Cook observed ash eruptions in 1774. This style of activity may have continued for the past 800 years. Yasur, located at the SE tip of Tanna Island, is a mostly unvegetated 361-m-high pyroclastic cone with a nearly circular, 400-m-wide summit crater. Source: www.volcanodiscovery.com
is the most well known volcanoes of Vanuatu and one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Yasur is known for its spectacular persistent strombolian activity that consists of regular small to violent explosions from one or several vents. Yasur, the best-known and most frequently visited of the Vanuatu volcanoes, has been in more-or-less continuous strombolian and vulcanian activity since Captain Cook observed ash eruptions in 1774. This style of activity may have continued for the past 800 years. Yasur, located at the SE tip of Tanna Island, is a mostly unvegetated 361-m-high pyroclastic cone with a nearly circular, 400-m-wide summit crater. Source: www.volcanodiscovery.com
Accommodation in Tanna
The best accommodation in Tanna Island to enjoy the Yasur Volcano, located just in front of the main entrance of the volcano, Thomas and his family make you feel at home! from the lodge you have an amazing view of the volcano and can hear its explosion, rooms are very clean, beautiful garden, delicious food, and even private "cinema" with the projection of the movie Tanna...and not only volcano, from there can explore more including villages, jungle and beach, with the famous bay where captain Cook arrived, with its natural hot spring and the nearby shark bay.
The best accommodation in Tanna Island to enjoy the Yasur Volcano, located just in front of the main entrance of the volcano, Thomas and his family make you feel at home! from the lodge you have an amazing view of the volcano and can hear its explosion, rooms are very clean, beautiful garden, delicious food, and even private "cinema" with the projection of the movie Tanna...and not only volcano, from there can explore more including villages, jungle and beach, with the famous bay where captain Cook arrived, with its natural hot spring and the nearby shark bay.
The cuisine of Vanuatu (known in Bislama as aelan kakae) incorporates fish, root vegetables such as taro and yams, fruits, and vegetables. Most island families grow food in their gardens, and food shortages are rare. Papayas, pineapples, mangoes, plantains, and sweet potatoes are abundant through much of the year. Coconut milk and cream are used to flavor many dishes. Most food is cooked using hot stones or through boiling and steaming; little food is fried. Kava, a traditional non-alcoholic drink, is extremely popular in Vanuatu. Once a prestigious beverage brewed from Piper methysticum, it is commonly drunk at dusk, before dinner, mostly by men but increasingly by women. While it has mild narcotic and relaxing effects on the individual, it is mostly appreciated for the relaxed social atmosphere it is traditionally associated with, both in urban and rural areas, in the context of the nakamal. The national dish of Vanuatu is the lap lap. source: www.best-country.com