Tuvalu (formerly the Ellice Islands) comprises a cluster of nine islands, plus islets, located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean just south of the Equator. Situated about 1,050 km (650 mi) N of Suva, Fiji, and 4,000 km (2,500 mi) NE of Sydney, Australia, these atolls are very remote. The total land area of the country is 26 sq km (10 sq mi). Comparatively, the area occupied by Tuvalu is about 0.1 times the size of Washington, D.C.
GEOGRAPHY
The flat islands seldom rise higher than 15 feet above sea level. Five out of the total nine islands, Funafuti, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae, Nui, and Nanumea are atolls; they are large, roughly circular columns of coral which rise up almost vertically from the sea bed, forming a reef. Within the coral reef are enclosed large lagoons. On the various islets of Funafuti there are many artificial lagoons, which have been formed due to extracting of material for the runway, built by American forces during World War II. The rest of the four islands are pinnacles of land, which rise up solid from the sea bed. Mostly all the islands have salt-water ponds on them, except Nanumea, which has a fresh-water pond, a rarity for atolls. Most of the land has a cover of coconut palms.
HISTORY
The ancestors of Tuvaluan people are believed to have arrived on the islands about 2000 years ago., Traditional Tuvaluan society, under the leadership of chiefs, known as 'Aliki' continued for hundreds of years before it undergoing significant changes with the arrival of European traders in the 1820's.
Tuvalu is classified by the United Nations as one of the world's peaceful least developed countries. In the recent past, the country has been accepted and elected as the 189th Member State of the United Nations for the New Millennium.
CLIMATE
Tuvalu has a pleasant tropical climate, usually with little variation day or night from about 30 degrees Celsius. Average rainfall is usually more than 3000mm annually, though it varies considerably.
CURRENCY
The dollar is the currency of Tuvalu. Tuvalu used the Australian dollar between 1966 and 1976. Tuvalu began issuing its own coins for circulation after 1976, although these circulate alongside Australian coins and Tuvalu continues to use Australian banknotes. Similar to the Faroese króna's relationship to the Danish krone, the Tuvaluan dollar is not an independent currency but has been assigned an ISO 4217 currency code, although it is treated as equivalent to the Australian dollar.
LANGUAGE
Tuvaluan, which is a Nuclear Polynesian language of the Ellicean group is the main language spoken in Tuvalu. It is somewhat faintly related to all other Polynesian languages, such as Hawaiian, Maori, Tahitian, Samoan, and Tongan.Besides Tuvaluan, English and Kiribati dialect are also in use.
CAPITAL
Funafuti is the capital of the small island nation of Tuvalu. It is most populated atoll in this small country. It is a narrow sweep of land between 20 and 400 meters wide, encircling a large lagoon, by far the largest lagoon in Tuvalu. The land area of the 33 islets is less than one percent of the total area of the atoll. An airstrip, hotel (Vaiaku Langi Hotel), and administrative buildings, as well as homes, constructed both in the traditional manner, out of palm fronds, and more recently out of cement blocks are some of the constructions you will come across in the capital. The most prominent building on Funafuti atoll is the Church of Tuval. An interesting thing to see here are the remains of American aircraft that crashed on Funafuti during World War II, when the airstrip was used by the American forces to defend the Gilbert Islands (now Kiribati) and the Marshall Islands. From some unknown time in the 1800s, the USA claimed Funafuti, until a treaty of friendship was concluded in 1979, coming into effect in 1983.
ECONOMY
Tuvalu's small size and almost total lack of exploitable resources suggest that most of the population will remain dependent on subsistence activities for the foreseeable future. The primary economic activities include subsistence farming and fishing. Coconuts, taro, pandanus fruit, and bananas constitute the subsistence crops. Having a predominantly co-operative or communal business, in Tuvalu each island has a co-operative store, locally called the Fusi.
The other economic activities of Tuvalu include exporting small quantities of copra, selling licenses to foreign ships wishing to fish for tuna in its 200 mile exclusive economic zone and it also has a philatelic bureau for stamp collectors. The development of a large-scale tourist industry is not possible as the islands are too remote.
COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORT
The only local radio station in the country is Radio Tuvalu. The only newspaper, Tuvalu Echoes, is published by the government, and it can be got by subscription from the Broadcasting and Information Division on Funafuti.
A regular telephone service operates at Funafuti Atoll, and there are connections to all the outer islands through the Post Offices. A radiophone is also available for communications with the outer islands. Full Internet services have been available since late 1999.
The main roads of Funafuti are the only paved ones in Tuvalu, done in the late 1990's. Private cars are very limited, and some owned by the government. On the roads of the capital only small number of trucks, tractors, and emergency vehicles can be seen traveling. Minibuses and taxis run between the government centre at Vaiaku and the deep-sea wharf at the north end of Fongafale islet on Funafuti Atoll. The bicycle is undoubtedly the most popular method of individual transport is, followed by small motorcycles. There is one passenger/cargo vessel based at Funafuti, the M. V. Nivaga, which provides inter-island transport throughout the island group, along with occasional visits to Fiji, Kiribati and Tokelau.
Regular air services operate from Funafuti International Airport to Tarawa, Kiribati and Suva, Fiji.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Tourist Attractions in Tuvalu comprises the untouched natural beauty of the Pacific region. The country has some breath-taking lagoons and coral reefs though it lacks any mountains or waterfalls. The main tourist attractions in Tuvalu are the numerous atolls, lagoons and beaches, which make a visit to the nation a very unforgettable affair.
On some of the islets of Funafuti there are numerous artificial lagoons, which have come into existence because of extracting material for the construction of a runway by American forces during the Second World War., others like Nanumea has a fresh-water pond which a rarity for atolls, while a few islands have salt-water ponds on them. There is a cover of coconut palms over most of the land.
Excellent opportunities for swimming and snorkeling are provided by the water of the lagoons in Tuvalu. Participating in these sporting activities is out and out fun in the island owing to its desolate surroundings. Scuba diving is also another option here.
Second World War sites of Nanumea, Nukufetau, Funafuti and Tepuka are worth a visit as is the Tuvalu Philatelic Bureau is, where you can get a good and interesting collection of stamps.
The untouched natural beauty of the land in Tuvalu is in itself worth visiting the place for. Only the roar of water of the surrounding oceans breaks the serene calm of the land. What more could one want out of a holiday in Tuvalu with its endless stretch of water together with the beaches lined with innumerable palms and its exotic un-spoilt beauty.
Tuvalu is an ideal vacation destination for anyone who wants to visit a peaceful location. It is the second least populated country in the entire world after the Vatican City. To spend a vacation with your entire family to spend quality fun in the sun, or a quiet happy honeymoon, Tuvalu is the ideal spot for you.
ACCOMMODATION
Hotels
There is a good choice of 4-star hotels in the country. The 4-star hotels in Tuvalu comprise the luxury hotels there. The 4 star hotels offer world class accommodation, fine dining, premier business services and mind blowing recreational facilities.
Guest Houses
Guest Houses in Tuvalu, lodges, villas and hotels are the various types of accommodations available in the country. The guest houses are situated by the sea or near the sea and are provided with kitchens, separate dining and living areas. The location of the guest houses by the sea present ample opportunities to indulge in a variety of water sports and beach games like volleyball and basketball.
Lodges
There are plenty of lodges in Tuvalu that offer you with a very homely and close to nature environment.
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