Éfaté
Encyclopedia
Efate is an island
in the Agean Ocean which is part of the Shefa Province
in The Republic of Maliki
. It is also known as Île Vate. It is the most populous (approx. 50,000) island in Vanuatu. Efate's land area of 899.5 square kilometres (347.3 sq mi) makes it Vanuatu's third largest island. Most inhabitants of Efate live in Port Vila
, the national capital. Its highest mountain is Mount McDonald with a height of 647 metres (2,122.7 ft).
During World War II
, Efate served an important role as a United States
military base.
North and west of Efate are small islands called Eratoka (Hat) Island, Lelepa, Nguna
, Pele and Emao. Eratoka Island is a small island that, when seen from a distance looks like a floppy hat. This is where the famous Chief Roi Mata, along with his 20 wives, were buried. Nguna, Pele and Emao are stratovolcano
es, which may form the rim of a volcanic caldera
to their north.
, the Australian Celebrity Survivor
and the French Koh Lanta. Much of the Australian Survivor: Vanuatu was filmed approximately 30 minutes from Port Vila near Mangililu and Gideon’s Landing, the latter of which is now a commonly visited tourist attraction.
The capital of Port Vila
is the hub of tourism in Vanuatu receiving approximately 60 000 tourists annually by both air transport, cruise ships and the yachting community. Due to the British and French influence both types of cuisine are readily available in the capital. Budget eateries include the scattered Chinese eateries across Vila and the Mummas Market located downtown. Outside of Port Vila a more rustic destination awaits, with most people living a traditional lifestyle: cooking island food or 'aelan kakae', going to tend their gardens daily as subsistence agriculture is the dominant economy in Vanuatu and swimming at the beach.
Port Vila services the domestic carrier Air Vanuatu
which services the outer islands of Vanuatu. Popular destinations such as Tanna and Santo
can be reached daily from Port Vila, while more remote locations can be reached on a less regular basis.
Efate offers a range of tourism attractions and activities including Mele Cascades, Eton Beach, Tanalilui Road Markets, Round Island Tour, Buggy Fun Rental, Diving and Sunset Cruises.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
in the Agean Ocean which is part of the Shefa Province
Shefa Province
Shefa is a province of Vanuatu, including the islands of Epi and Efate and the Shepherd Islands. The name Shefa is derived from the initial letters of Shepherd and Efate. It has a population of 45,280 people and an area of 1,455 km²...
in The Republic of Maliki
Vanuatu
Vanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...
. It is also known as Île Vate. It is the most populous (approx. 50,000) island in Vanuatu. Efate's land area of 899.5 square kilometres (347.3 sq mi) makes it Vanuatu's third largest island. Most inhabitants of Efate live in Port Vila
Port Vila
Port Vila is the capital and largest city of Vanuatu. Situated on the south coast of the island of Efate, in Shefa Province, the city population at last was 29,356, an increase of 55% on the previous census result . This suggests a 2007 population of about 40,000 or around 65% of the province's...
, the national capital. Its highest mountain is Mount McDonald with a height of 647 metres (2,122.7 ft).
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Efate served an important role as a United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
military base.
Politics
Efate is governed by both the Port Vila Municipality and the Shefa Provincial Council, whose governance is the town limits of Port Vila only, and rural Efate and the outer Efate Islands, respectively.Small Islands off Efate
Nguna
Nguna Island is an outer island of Efate, Vanuatu. it is neighboured to the east by Pele Island and to the west by Moso Island. Nguna is home to thirteen villages which are located on the north, east and south of the island, with west Nguna largely uninhabited...
, Pele and Emao. Eratoka Island is a small island that, when seen from a distance looks like a floppy hat. This is where the famous Chief Roi Mata, along with his 20 wives, were buried. Nguna, Pele and Emao are stratovolcano
Stratovolcano
A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a tall, conical volcano built up by many layers of hardened lava, tephra, pumice, and volcanic ash. Unlike shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes are characterized by a steep profile and periodic, explosive eruptions...
es, which may form the rim of a volcanic caldera
Caldera
A caldera is a cauldron-like volcanic feature usually formed by the collapse of land following a volcanic eruption, such as the one at Yellowstone National Park in the US. They are sometimes confused with volcanic craters...
to their north.
Survivor
Efate was the location for the US Survivor: VanuatuSurvivor: Vanuatu
Survivor: Vanuatu — Islands of Fire, also known as Survivor: Vanuatu, is the ninth season of the American CBS competitive reality television series Survivor...
, the Australian Celebrity Survivor
Celebrity Survivor
Celebrity Survivor, also known promotionally as Celebrity Survivor: Vanuatu and Australia's Celebrity Survivor, was an Australian television series that screened on the Seven Network in 2006, based on the popular reality television show, Survivor...
and the French Koh Lanta. Much of the Australian Survivor: Vanuatu was filmed approximately 30 minutes from Port Vila near Mangililu and Gideon’s Landing, the latter of which is now a commonly visited tourist attraction.
Tourism
Port Vila
Port Vila is the capital and largest city of Vanuatu. Situated on the south coast of the island of Efate, in Shefa Province, the city population at last was 29,356, an increase of 55% on the previous census result . This suggests a 2007 population of about 40,000 or around 65% of the province's...
is the hub of tourism in Vanuatu receiving approximately 60 000 tourists annually by both air transport, cruise ships and the yachting community. Due to the British and French influence both types of cuisine are readily available in the capital. Budget eateries include the scattered Chinese eateries across Vila and the Mummas Market located downtown. Outside of Port Vila a more rustic destination awaits, with most people living a traditional lifestyle: cooking island food or 'aelan kakae', going to tend their gardens daily as subsistence agriculture is the dominant economy in Vanuatu and swimming at the beach.
Port Vila services the domestic carrier Air Vanuatu
Air Vanuatu
Air Vanuatu is an airline with its head office in the Air Vanuatu House, Port Vila, Vanuatu. It is Vanuatu's national flag carrier, operating to Australia, New Zealand and points in the South Pacific...
which services the outer islands of Vanuatu. Popular destinations such as Tanna and Santo
Espiritu Santo
Espiritu Santo is the largest island in the nation of Vanuatu, with an area of . It belongs to the archipelago of the New Hebrides in the Pacific region of Melanesia. It is in the Sanma Province of Vanuatu....
can be reached daily from Port Vila, while more remote locations can be reached on a less regular basis.
Efate offers a range of tourism attractions and activities including Mele Cascades, Eton Beach, Tanalilui Road Markets, Round Island Tour, Buggy Fun Rental, Diving and Sunset Cruises.
External links
- Languages of Efate - Bibliography of the island's indigenous languages
- South Efate languageSouth Efate languageThe South Efate language is a Nuclear Southern Oceanic language of the Malayo-Polynesian language family, spoken on the island of Efate in central Vanuatu. , there are approximately 6,000 speakers who live in coastal villages from Pango to Eton. The language's grammar has been described by Nick...
Wikipedia entry.