Vanua Lava

Coordinates: 13°48′S 167°28′E / 13.800°S 167.467°E / -13.800; 167.467
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Not to be confused with Vanua Levu, an island in Fiji.
Vanua Lava
Native name:
Vōnōlav, Vunulava, Vunulāv
Map of Vanua Lava
Geography
LocationPacific Ocean
Coordinates13°48′S 167°28′E / 13.800°S 167.467°E / -13.800; 167.467
ArchipelagoVanuatu, Banks Islands
Area314 km2 (121 sq mi)
Highest elevation921 m (3022 ft)
Highest pointMount Suretamate
Administration
ProvinceTorba Province
Largest settlementSola
Demographics
Population2,623 (2009)
Pop. density8.35/km2 (21.63/sq mi)

Vanua Lava is the second largest of the Banks Islands in Torba Province, Vanuatu, after slightly larger Gaua.

It is located about 120 km north-northeast of Espiritu Santo and north of Gaua.

Name

The name Vanua Lava

Torres-Banks languages include Lo-Toga Venielave [βəniəlaˈβə] and Lakon Vanōlav [βanʊˈlaɸ]. All of these terms come from a Proto-Torres–Banks form *βanua
laβa "Large Land".

History

Vanua Lava was first sighted by Europeans during the Spanish expedition of

Pedro Fernández de Quirós from 25 to 29 April 1606. The island’s name was then charted as Portal de Belén (“Nativity scene” in Spanish).[1]

Vanua Lava was first explored by a New Zealand bishop,

George Augustus Selwyn, in 1859. The sulfur deposits of Mt. Suretamate were at one time worked by a French company. Copra
is the chief export.

Geography

Location of the Banks Islands in the north of Vanuatu

The island measures about 25 km north-to-south and 20 km east-to-west. It has a land area of 314 km². The capital of Torba province, Sola, is located on the east side of the island, on Port Patteson.

The highest altitude on the island is 946 metres (3,104 feet).

Kwakea and Ravenga. Waterfall Bay
lies on the west side of the island.

Natural history

A 14,850 ha tract, encompassing the upper slopes of Mount Suretamate and much of the northeastern coastline of the island, has been recognised as an

streaked fantails, Melanesian flycatchers, buff-bellied monarchs, southern shrikebills, Santo thicketbirds and Vanuatu white-eyes. It is also home to seabird breeding colonies of collared and white-necked petrels. Other animals found on the island include coconut crabs and Banks flying foxes.[2]

Population and languages

The population of Vanua Lava was 2,623 in the 2009 census.[3]

Vanua Lava is home to four indigenous languages:[4][5] Vurës, with about 2000 speakers; Vera'a, with 500; and two dying languages, Mwesen, with 10 speakers, and Lemerig, with only 2 living speakers. Other languages on the island, spoken by migrant communities, include Mwotlap (on the northeastern coast) and Mota (in the east). The language most commonly spoken in Sola, the administrative capital, where people from different language backgrounds meet, is Bislama.

Vanua Lava evidently used to harbour more languages in the past, several of which have disappeared since the mid 19th century.[6]

Transportation

There is an

IATA code SLH), to which Air Vanuatu
flies three times a week. There is a single road on the island, but few vehicles.

References

References

  1. ^ Kelly, Celsus, O.F.M. La Austrialia del Espíritu Santo. The Journal of Fray Martín de Munilla O.F.M. and other documents relating to the Voyage of Pedro Fernández de Quirós to the South Sea (1605-1606) and the Franciscan Missionary Plan (1617-1627) Cambridge, 1966, p.39, 62.
  2. ^ "Vanua Lava, Mount Sereama". BirdLife Data Zone. BirdLife International. 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  3. ^ 2623 = sum of Vanua Lava + Kwakea figures in 2009 census: "2009 National Census of Population and Housing: Summary Release" (PDF). Vanuatu National Statistics Office. 2009. Retrieved Nov 23, 2010. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ^ Cf. François (2012).
  5. ^ Detailed list and map of the Banks and Torres languages.
  6. ^ François (2012):89-90).

External links

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