Ovalau
Encyclopedia
Ovalau is the sixth largest island in Fiji
's Lomaiviti Archipelago. Situated at 17.70° South and 178.8° East, (60 km north east from the national capital Suva
and 20 km off the east coast of Viti Levu
), the island is about 13 kilometers long and 10 kilometers wide. It covers a total area of 102.3 square kilometers and has a population of around 9,000, approximately half the Lomaiviti population. Levuka
, Fiji's former capital, is the largest of 24 towns and villages on the island.
Ovalau is characterized by its rugged topography
, with little flat land apart from the Lovoni Valley in the centre of the island. The island is an eroded volcanic crater with a narrow belt of flat to udulating country between the encircling lagoon and the steep crater sides. The highest peaks are Nadelaiovalau, with an altitude of 625 meters, in the east, and Tomuna, 526 meters, in the south.
. Levuka Airport, which handles twice-daily Air Fiji
flights to and from Suva
is located on the west of the island, next to the Bureta District School compound. There is one flight in the morning, and one in the evening, with only the evening service operating on Sundays. Flights cost around FJ$150 return.
Boat and ferry services also connect Ovalau to Viti Levu
- the Patterson Brothers ferry company runs a service between Levuka, Buresala, Natovi, and Suva
depending on the day.
Transport around the island is mainly by carrier - either pick-up trucks or lorries - with benches fixed down, and covered with tarpaulin. These carriers are not scheduled, so getting around the island can be quite difficult, unless you are travelling from Levuka
. There is one bus service, which runs once daily from the west of Ovalau to Levuka in the morning, and returns at 5pm, and is mainly used by schoolchildren and PAFCO workers. Taxis are available for hire, though often travel past certain villages is refused - apart from to tourists - due to the condition of the roads (unsealed).
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
's Lomaiviti Archipelago. Situated at 17.70° South and 178.8° East, (60 km north east from the national capital Suva
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
and 20 km off the east coast of Viti Levu
Viti Levu
Viti Levu is the largest island in the Republic of Fiji, the site of the nation's capital, Suva, and home to a large majority of Fiji's population.- Geography and economy :...
), the island is about 13 kilometers long and 10 kilometers wide. It covers a total area of 102.3 square kilometers and has a population of around 9,000, approximately half the Lomaiviti population. Levuka
Levuka
Levuka is a town on the eastern coast of the Fijian island of Ovalau, in Lomaiviti Province, in the Eastern Division of Fiji. It was formerly the Capital of Fiji. At the census in 2007, the last to date, Levuka town had a population of 1,131 , about half of Ovalau's 8,360 inhabitants...
, Fiji's former capital, is the largest of 24 towns and villages on the island.
Ovalau is characterized by its rugged topography
Topography
Topography is the study of Earth's surface shape and features or those ofplanets, moons, and asteroids...
, with little flat land apart from the Lovoni Valley in the centre of the island. The island is an eroded volcanic crater with a narrow belt of flat to udulating country between the encircling lagoon and the steep crater sides. The highest peaks are Nadelaiovalau, with an altitude of 625 meters, in the east, and Tomuna, 526 meters, in the south.
Transport around Ovalau
There is one road which circles the island, however, between the villages of Rukuruku and Buresala the road is little more than a track, as travel between these points is not common, most traffic being directed from these two villages to LevukaLevuka
Levuka is a town on the eastern coast of the Fijian island of Ovalau, in Lomaiviti Province, in the Eastern Division of Fiji. It was formerly the Capital of Fiji. At the census in 2007, the last to date, Levuka town had a population of 1,131 , about half of Ovalau's 8,360 inhabitants...
. Levuka Airport, which handles twice-daily Air Fiji
Air Fiji
Air Fiji was an airline based in Nausori, Fiji. It operated inter-island services to destinations within the Fijian Islands. Its main base was Nausori International Airport, Suva, with a base at Nadi International Airport....
flights to and from Suva
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
is located on the west of the island, next to the Bureta District School compound. There is one flight in the morning, and one in the evening, with only the evening service operating on Sundays. Flights cost around FJ$150 return.
Boat and ferry services also connect Ovalau to Viti Levu
Viti Levu
Viti Levu is the largest island in the Republic of Fiji, the site of the nation's capital, Suva, and home to a large majority of Fiji's population.- Geography and economy :...
- the Patterson Brothers ferry company runs a service between Levuka, Buresala, Natovi, and Suva
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
depending on the day.
Transport around the island is mainly by carrier - either pick-up trucks or lorries - with benches fixed down, and covered with tarpaulin. These carriers are not scheduled, so getting around the island can be quite difficult, unless you are travelling from Levuka
Levuka
Levuka is a town on the eastern coast of the Fijian island of Ovalau, in Lomaiviti Province, in the Eastern Division of Fiji. It was formerly the Capital of Fiji. At the census in 2007, the last to date, Levuka town had a population of 1,131 , about half of Ovalau's 8,360 inhabitants...
. There is one bus service, which runs once daily from the west of Ovalau to Levuka in the morning, and returns at 5pm, and is mainly used by schoolchildren and PAFCO workers. Taxis are available for hire, though often travel past certain villages is refused - apart from to tourists - due to the condition of the roads (unsealed).
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