Qamea
Encyclopedia
Qamea is one of three islets lying to the east of Thurston Point on the island of Taveuni
, Fiji
, the others being Matagi
and Laucala
.
survived better in Qamea than in many other areas of Fiji, as the mongoose
was never introduced. Qamea's Naivivi Bay is known geographically as a hurricane hole - a natural shelter from hurricanes.
, windsurfing
, snorkelling, sailing
, shelling, and canoeing
.
Taveuni
Taveuni is the third-largest island in Fiji, after Vanua Levu and Viti Levu, with a total land area of 435 square kilometers . The cigar-shaped island, a massive shield volcano which rises from the floor of the Pacific Ocean, is situated 6.5 kilometers to the east of Vanua Levu, across the...
, Fiji
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...
, the others being Matagi
Matagi Island
Matagi , sometimes written Matangi, is an island of Fiji, one of three tiny volcanic islands grouped to the east of Thurston Point on the island of Taveuni, the others being Qamea and Laucala...
and Laucala
Laucala
Laucala is one of three small islands lying to the east of Thurston Point on the island of Taveuni in Fiji. The privately owned island is the site of the exclusive Laucala Resort....
.
Geography
Qamea lies some 2.5 kilometers east of Thurston Point and covers an area of 34 square kilometers. Its length is 10 kilometers; its width varies from a few hundred meters to five kilometers. The island is characterized by high hills (some as much as 300 meters in height) and steep valleys. Indigenous faunaFauna
Fauna or faunæ is all of the animal life of any particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is flora.Zoologists and paleontologists use fauna to refer to a typical collection of animals found in a specific time or place, e.g. the "Sonoran Desert fauna" or the "Burgess shale fauna"...
survived better in Qamea than in many other areas of Fiji, as the mongoose
Mongoose
Mongoose are a family of 33 living species of small carnivorans from southern Eurasia and mainland Africa. Four additional species from Madagascar in the subfamily Galidiinae, which were previously classified in this family, are also referred to as "mongooses" or "mongoose-like"...
was never introduced. Qamea's Naivivi Bay is known geographically as a hurricane hole - a natural shelter from hurricanes.
Demographic and economic factors
Kocoma, which has a population of about 550, is the largest of six villages on the island. The others are Dreketi, Togo, Naiviivi, Vatusogosogo, and Waibulu. The islanders are noted for a particular delicacy called paileve, which is fermented in a pit. Also famous is the migration of "lairo" or red land crabs, which occurs near the full moon in November. Activities include water-skiing, fishingFishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, windsurfing
Windsurfing
Windsurfing or sailboarding is a surface water sport that combines elements of surfing and sailing. It consists of a board usually two to four metres long, powered by the orthogonal effect of the wind on a sail. The rig is connected to the board by a free-rotating universal joint and comprises a...
, snorkelling, sailing
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
, shelling, and canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
.