Vanua Levu

Coordinates: 16°35′S 179°11′E / 16.583°S 179.183°E / -16.583; 179.183
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Not to be confused with Vanua Lava, an island of Vanuatu.
"Sandalwood Island" redirects here. Not to be confused with Sumba, also known as Sandalwood Island.
Vanua Levu
Fiji Indians

Vanua Levu (pronounced

Hindi: वानुआ लेवु), formerly known as Sandalwood Island, is the second largest island of Fiji. Located 64 kilometres (40 miles) to the north of the larger Viti Levu, the island has an area of 5,587.1 square kilometres (2,157.2 sq mi) and a population of 135,961 as of 2007
.

Geology

Fiji lies in a

Lau Ridge to the east.[1]

strata. The Plio-Pleistocene Mba Grouop is found on the southwestern portion of the island and consists of porphyritic basalt flows and volcanoclastics grading into greywacke. The Group includes the peak of Navotuvotu (2,763 feet or 842 meters) and the Mt. Kasi Mine.[2][3]

Geography

Island of Vanua Levu
Enlargeable, detailed map of Vanua Levu and outlying islands

The main part of the island is roughly shaped like a tall, thin triangle 30 to 50 kilometres (19–31 miles) in width and 180 kilometres (110 miles) in length, rotated so that the point is to the northeast. This point, the northernmost in the Fiji chain, is

antimeridian
passes through this island, just touching its northeastern tip.

A rugged mountain range divides the island horizontally, forming much of the boundary between the

Qawa. These three form a delta on which the town of Labasa
stands. None of the island's rivers are navigable by large vessels. There are also many well known rivers on Vanua levu. The first is the most dangerous, the Wainikoro river, known for its shark attacks. The second is the Dreketi river, the deepest river in Fiji.

Flora and fauna

Main articles: Fiji tropical moist forests and Fiji tropical dry forests

A 17,600 hectares (43,000 acres) area covering much of the interior of the Natewa/Tunuloa peninsula is the Natewa/Tunuloa Peninsula

shy ground doves.[4]

Demographics and economic activities

Ferry and bus at the port of Nabouwalu

The island's main population centres are the towns of Labasa, in the north, and

tourists owing to its diving and yachting facilities. The main industry on the island is sugar cane production, especially in the north. Copra
is also an important crop. Tourism has also emerged as a significant industry on Vanua Levu.

Politics

For administrative purposes, Vanua Levu is divided into three provinces:

Town Council
, whose members are elected for a three-year term and choose the Mayor from among themselves. At present, normative local body governance is in abeyance, and all cities and towns in Fiji are being run temporarily by Special Administrators appointed by the central government.

History

The Gnauna Vinaka Passing the Island of Tavea. Mountains of Vanua-Levu in the distance (June 1853, X, p.67)[5]

Vanua Levu was settled about 3,100 years ago, with the settlers living in houses raised above the reefs on the shores. Between 1250 and 1350, the Pacific sea level fell 30 centimetres (12 in), exposing the tops of the reefs. This killed the abundant sea food, it also dropped the ground water table below the depth of the roots of the crops. The scarcity of food caused conflict and war. In response, the people moved from seaside villages, for mountaintop fortified villages. These forts were occupied until about 1870, with the last clear indication of warfare about 1860.[6]

The

James Wilson subsequently explored the area in 1797 in his ship Duff
.

Traders began exploiting

bêche-de-mer traders, the island received little further attention until 1840, when a young sailor known as Jackson deserted his crew at Somosomo, on the nearby island of Taveuni, was adopted by a local Chief
, and explored much of eastern and northern Vanua Levu.

Settlers from Australia and New Zealand established

Labasa, now a major sugar
-producing centre.

In March 2012, the country of

rising sea levels.[8]

On December 19, 2020, Cyclone Yasa slammed into the island, killing at least four people and causing millions of dollars in damage. 24,000 people were evacuated from their homes.[9]

Transport

Ferry service by

Ovalau
.

References

  1. ^ Greenbaum, D.; Bowker, M. R; Dau, I; Drospy, H; Greally, K. B; McDonald A. J. W; Marsh, S. H; Northmore, K. J; O'Connor, E. A; Prasad, R. S & Tragheim, D. G. (1995). "Landslide hazards in Fiji" (PDF). Technical Report WC/95/28 Rapid methods of landslide hazard mapping : Fiji case study. British Geological Survey. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
  2. ^ Provisional Geologic Map of Fiji. Suva: Fiji Geological Survey. 1965.
  3. doi:10.1080/00288306.1967.10420217
    .
  4. ^ "BirdLife Data Zone: Natewa/Tunuloa Peninsula". datazone.birdlife.org. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  5. ^ "Wesleyan Chapel, Naivuki, Vanua-Levu, Feejee". The Wesleyan Juvenile Offering: A Miscellany of Missionary Information for Young Persons. X. Wesleyan Missionary Society: 67–97. September 1853. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  6. ^ Patrick Nunn (June 21, 2016). "Fiji's experience with sea-level rise 600 years ago shows how climate change can inspire violence". Slate.com. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  7. ISBN 978-0-8166-0853-9
    . argo schooner fiji.
  8. ^ Paul Chapman (2012-03-07). "Entire nation of Kiribati to be relocated over rising sea level threat". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2012-03-08.
  9. ^ "Fiji: Devastation caused by Cyclone Yasa compared to war zone". Al Jazeera. Retrieved December 19, 2020.

Vanua Levu travel guide from Wikivoyage 16°35′S 179°11′E / 16.583°S 179.183°E / -16.583; 179.183

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