Viti Levu

Coordinates: 17°48′S 178°0′E / 17.800°S 178.000°E / -17.800; 178.000
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Viti Levu
विटी लेव
Map of Fiji showing Viti Levu (one of its major islands)
Geography
LocationPacific Ocean
Coordinates17°48′S 178°0′E / 17.800°S 178.000°E / -17.800; 178.000
ArchipelagoViti Levu Group
Area10,388 km2 (4,011 sq mi)
Area rank75th
Length146 km (90.7 mi)
Width106 km (65.9 mi)
Highest elevation1,324 m (4344 ft)
Highest pointTomanivi
Administration
Fiji
DivisionWestern Division and Central Division
Largest settlementSuva (pop. 93,970)
Demographics
Population740,000 (2022)
Pop. density55.83/km2 (144.6/sq mi)
Ethnic groupsNative Fijians (54.3%),
Indo-Fijians (38.1%); other (Asian, Europeans, other Pacific Islander
) (7.6%)

Viti Levu (pronounced [ˈβitʃi ˈleβu]; lit. 'Great Fiji') is the largest island in the Republic of Fiji. It is the site of the nation's capital, Suva, and home to a large majority of Fiji's population.

Geology

Fiji lies in a

176° Extension Zone (176°E EZ) to the west; and the Hunter Fracture Zone (HFZ) and Lau Ridge to the east.[1]

The oldest rocks on the island are those formed during the

group
. The lower portion of the group is made up of
Nadi River and Navua River. The Plio-Pleistocene Mba group is found in the northern portion of the island. It consists of porphyritic basalt flows and volcanoclastics, grading into greywacke. Geographically, it includes the peaks of Koroyanitu (at 3921 feet), Malua (at 3294 feet), Monavatu (at 3708 feet), Mount Tomanivi (at 4341 feet), and Ndelamendamu (at 2540 feet). It extends along the eastern coast, almost to Nausori, and includes the Emperor Mine near Vatukoula.[2][3]

Geography, economy and ecology

Topography of Viti Levu island.
Enlargeable, detailed map of Viti Levu and some neighbouring islands.

Viti Levu is the largest island in the Republic of Fiji — home to 70% of the population (about 600,000 people) — and is the hub of the entire Fijian archipelago. It measures 146 kilometres (91 mi) long and 106 kilometres (66 mi) wide, and has an area of 10,389 square kilometres (4,011 sq mi). Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions account for the somewhat rugged terrain of the island, which is divided into roughly equal halves by a mountain range that runs north to south. The centre of the island is forested and includes the nation's highest peak Mount Tomanivi (otherwise known as Mount Victoria), which rises to 1,324 metres (4,344 ft).

The eastern side of the island experiences heavy rainfall, particularly in the mountains, and is home to

Rakiraki. The island of Viti Levu is the only known home of one of the world's largest insects, the Giant Fijian long-horned beetle
.

The island is susceptible to the effects of climate change. It is estimated that the compound effects of sea level rise and storm surge may result in a temporary relocation of a relatively high numbers of the inhabitants of Viti Levu, predominantly the northern and western parts, with an exposure of up to 6.75% of the islands' population in the future.[4]

Localities

Korotogo beach, Coral Coast.
The highland village of Navala.

Viti Levu is home to the capital city of

Nadi, Nausori, Rakiraki, and Sigatoka. Two other well-known localities are Natadola Beach in Natadola (a luxurious Intercontinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa & boutique accommodation at Natadola Beach Resort & Yatule Beach Resort ), and Pacific Harbour
(a resort centre about 50 kilometers from Suva). A single major road runs around the perimeter of Viti Levu.

Politics

Eight of Fiji's fourteen

Indo-Fijians (many of whose ancestors came to the island from India as indentured workers between 1879 and 1916), whereas eastern Viti Levu has a high concentration of indigenous Fijians
(except in its urban areas, which are more racially diverse).

History

Prehistory

Viti Levu is believed to have been inhabited longer than the island of Vanua Levu, which lies to its north. According to oral tradition, the first Melanesian settlers landed at Vuda Point and established Viseisei as Fiji's first oldest settlement. There is archaeological evidence contradicting this account.

Transportation

Ferry service, provided by the

Patterson Brothers Shipping Company LTD
, connects Viti Levu to the rest of the islands.

Nausori International Airport is on the main island. It has service on 3 domestic commercial passenger airlines.

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. doi:10.3389/fbuil.2022.796471
    .

External links
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Viti_Levu&oldid=1192645447"