The country of Tuvalu is made up of nine small coral island groups in the west-central Pacific Ocean. It is part of the Commonwealth, an association of Great Britain and several of its former dependent states. Fongafale, on Funafuti Atoll, is the capital and main port. The islands were known as the Ellice Islands until they gained independence from Great Britain in 1978. GeographyThe islands of Tuvalu are located some 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometers) northeast of Australia. They stretch about 400 miles (644 kilometers) from northwest to southeast. The total land area is about 10 square miles (26 square kilometers). Tuvalu has two types of island groups. Five of the groups are atolls, which is a ribbon of islets, or small islands, made of coral reef surrounding a pool of water. These atolls are Nanumea, Nui, Nukufetau, Funafuti, and Nukulaelae. The reef islands have a central area of land surrounded by fringes of coral reef. Tuvalu's reef islands are Nanumanga, Niutao, Vaitupu, and Niulakita. All the islands of Tuvalu are low-lying, most being only about 15 feet (4.5 meters) above sea level. There are no rivers. Tuvalu is hot and humid throughout the year, and it is usually very rainy. Plants and animalsThe soils of Tuvalu are of poor quality, and vegetation is limited. There are only about 35 species of plants found on the islands, including coconut palms, pandanus, casuarina, herbs, ferns, and grasses. Wildlife in Tuvalu is also limited and includes Polynesian rats, lizards, and turtles. The surrounding waters, however, are filled with an abundance of sea life. Bonito, tuna, kingfish, and flying fish are common. Octopuses, crustaceans, and various fishes inhabit the reefs. People and cultureMore than 95 percent of the people of Tuvalu are ethnically Polynesian, a group found throughout the eastern Pacific. However, the people of the island of Nui are mostly Micronesian, a group from the western Pacific. There is no official language or religion. Most people speak Tuvaluan, a language closely related to Samoan. A Micronesian language called Kiribati is spoken on Nui. English is also widely used. More than 90 percent of the people in Tuvalu are Christian. More than 40 percent of the population lives on Funafuti Atoll, the center of government and commerce. The rest of the people live on the outer islands. About half of the population lives in cities. EconomyTuvalu's economy is based largely on agriculture and fishing. There is limited production of copra, or dried coconut meat. Bananas, breadfruit, pandanus fruit, and sweet potatoes also are grown. Chickens and pigs are raised. Most of the food that is grown in the country is needed to feed the people of Tuvalu. Except for copra, very little food is exported to other countries. In fact, Tuvalu must import much of its food. Many people are employed by the government of Tuvalu. Another small source of revenue is stamps. Tuvalu's government sells its stamps to collectors from around the world. There are few jobs available in industry. Because of this, many Tuvaluans leave the islands. Large numbers of them work overseas and send part of their wages home to help support their families. Foreign aid is also important for the economy of Tuvalu. The government made a profitable business deal in 2000. Tuvalu owned the two-letter Internet domain name “.tv.” Tuvalu leased the rights to use this code to a Web company in exchange for millions of dollars. The Web company then sold site addresses that ended in “.tv” to those who wanted them—for example, television networks. HistorySettlementThe first settlers on the islands of Tuvalu were from Samoa. They arrived in about the 14th century AD. Smaller numbers later arrived from Tonga, the northern Cook Islands, Rotuma, and the Gilbert Islands—all located in the Pacific Ocean. Niulakita, the smallest island, was uninhabited before European contact. The other eight islands were settled by the 18th century, giving rise to the name Tuvalu, which means “cluster of eight.” European controlIn the early 19th century, European whalers and traders began visiting the islands. In 1863 slave traders from Peru kidnapped more than 10 percent of the people from the islands. Missionaries from England settled in Tuvalu in the 1860s and converted the islanders to Christianity. The islands, which were then known as the Ellice Islands, became a British protectorate in 1892. In 1916 the islands became part of a British colony along with the Gilbert Islands (now the country Kiribati). Together they made up the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. IndependenceThe Gilbert islanders were mostly Micronesian, while the people of Ellice were mostly Polynesian. Ethnic tensions between the groups began to flare in the 1960s, and in 1976 the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony split apart. The Ellice group was granted independence as Tuvalu in 1978. In the late 20th century, Tuvalu began addressing a serious environmental situation. Because the waters of the Pacific Ocean were rising, the islands of Tuvalu were expected to someday be underwater. In the 21st century, scientists continued to monitor ocean levels. Population (2001 estimate), 11,000. |