| Wallis Island |
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Information AboutWallis Island |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT WALLIS ISLAND | |
| islands of oceania | |
| landforms of wallis and futuna | |
| volcanoes of the pacific ocean | |
| crater lakes | |
| SHOPPER'S DELIGHT | |
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GEOGRAPHY The island has an area of 77,5 km&2 and a circumference of c. 50 km. Its highest point is Mount Loka (131 m). There are also a handfull of large lakes, sign of the volcanic origin, some of them almost perfect circles and with straight vertical walls, like Lano Lalolalo: Wallis is located 240 km notheast 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. HISTORY Archaeological excavations have identified sites on Wallis dating from circa 1400 BC . It was part of the Tongan Maritime Empire from around the 13th to 16th century. By that time the influence of the Tui Tonga had declined so much that Uvea became important on itself. Several current, high ranking Tongan titles, like Halaevalu , trace their descent from Uvea. A legendary large canoe, the Lomipeau was built on the island as a donation to the Tui Tonga. The big fortress of Talietumu close to Lotoalahi in Mua was the last holdout of the Tongans until they were defeated. The ruins of the place are still a touristical attraction: The island was renamed Wallis after an Cornish navigator, Captain Samuel Wallis , who discovered it while sailing the HMS ''Dolphin'' on August 16 1767 , following his discovery of Tahiti . DEMOGRAPHICS The population of the island was 10 071 in 2003 (67% of the territory's population). Most of the inhabitants speak Uvean (or Wallisian) as their mother tongue. Almost all are Roman Catholic , and the number of churches, chapels, oratories, etc. is overwhelming. ADMINISTRATION Uvea is divided into three districts: Hihifo (meaning west, but comprises the northern part of the island), Hahake (meaning east, the central part), and Mua (meaning first, the southern part). The territory's capital Matāutu is located on the eastcoast of Hahake. TRANSPORTATION The only commercial flights that go to Wallis are operated by the New Caledonia based Aircalin . There is an Aircalin office in Matāutu in Hahake. REFERENCE
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