Niulakita
Encyclopedia
Niulakita is the southernmost reef
island, which is a district of Tuvalu
, and the name of the only village on this island. The junior school is Lotoalofa Primary School.
in 1944 to decrease the population density, and has a population (2002 census) of 35. There are four ponds or lakes and the village has a maneaba (a village hall or community hall) in Tuvalu
. There is one on each isle and they serve meeting and recreational functions as well. The isle has an oval
outline, with the longer axis running east-west (about 1 km long).This island features highest point of Tuvalu ( 4.6 metres (15.1 ft) above sea level ). A fringing reef
surrounds the whole island, which makes local fishing and transport into and out of the island difficult.
navigator Alvaro Mendaña
during second expedition encountered Niulakita, which he named ‘La Solitaria’ but was unable to land.
In 1821 Captain George Barrett, in the Nantucket whaler Independence II, visited Niulakita, which he named ‘Rocky Group’.
Niulakita was uninhabited until 1949 when it was settled with emigrants from overpopulated Niutao
. It was formerly named variously La Solitaria, Independence, Sophia and Rocky.
Reef
In nautical terminology, a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water ....
island, which is a district of Tuvalu
Tuvalu
Tuvalu , formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia. Its nearest neighbours are Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Fiji. It comprises four reef islands and five true atolls...
, and the name of the only village on this island. The junior school is Lotoalofa Primary School.
Geographical features
Niulakita consists of one island. It was bought by the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1944 to decrease the population density, and has a population (2002 census) of 35. There are four ponds or lakes and the village has a maneaba (a village hall or community hall) in Tuvalu
Tuvalu
Tuvalu , formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia. Its nearest neighbours are Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Fiji. It comprises four reef islands and five true atolls...
. There is one on each isle and they serve meeting and recreational functions as well. The isle has an oval
Oval
An oval is any curve resembling an egg or an ellipse, such as a Cassini oval. The term does not have a precise mathematical definition except in one area oval , but it may also refer to:* A sporting arena of oval shape** a cricket field...
outline, with the longer axis running east-west (about 1 km long).This island features highest point of Tuvalu ( 4.6 metres (15.1 ft) above sea level ). A fringing reef
Reef
In nautical terminology, a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water ....
surrounds the whole island, which makes local fishing and transport into and out of the island difficult.
Historical background
In 1595 SpanishSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
navigator Alvaro Mendaña
Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira
Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira was a Spanish navigator. Born in Congosto, in León, he was the nephew of Lope García de Castro, viceroy of Peru...
during second expedition encountered Niulakita, which he named ‘La Solitaria’ but was unable to land.
In 1821 Captain George Barrett, in the Nantucket whaler Independence II, visited Niulakita, which he named ‘Rocky Group’.
Niulakita was uninhabited until 1949 when it was settled with emigrants from overpopulated Niutao
Niutao
Niutao is a reef island in the northern part of Tuvalu. It is one of the nine districts of Tuvalu, and one of the three who consist of only one island, not counting the three islets inside the closed lagoon. Niutao has a population of 663 .-Geography:There are two lakes , which are brackish to...
. It was formerly named variously La Solitaria, Independence, Sophia and Rocky.