Outline of Tuvalu

The location of Tuvalu
An enlargeable map of Tuvalu

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Tuvalu:

Tuvalu (formerly known as the Ellice Islands) – sovereign Polynesian island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean midway between Hawaiʻi and Australia.[1] Its nearest neighbours are Kiribati, Samoa and Fiji. Comprising three reef islands and six true atolls with a gross land area of just 26 square kilometers (10 sq mi) it is the third-least populated independent country in the world, with only Vatican City and Nauru having fewer inhabitants. It is also the second-smallest member by population of the United Nations. In terms of physical land size, Tuvalu is the fourth smallest country in the world, larger only than the Vatican City—0.44 km²; Monaco—1.95 km² and Nauru—21 km². Tuvalu’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covers an oceanic area of approximately 900,000 km2.[2]

The first inhabitants of Tuvalu were Polynesians. Therefore, the origins of the people of Tuvalu are addressed in the theories regarding the spread of humans out of Southeast Asia, from Taiwan, via Melanesia and across the Pacific islands to create Polynesia.

Tuvalu was first sighted by Europeans on 16 January 1568 during the voyage of Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira from Spain who is understood to have sighted the island of Nui. Mendaña made contact with the islanders but was unable to land.[3] During Mendaña's second voyage across the Pacific he passed Niulakita on 29 August 1595.[3][4] Captain John Byron passed through the islands of Tuvalu in 1764 during his circumnavigation of the globe as captain of HMS Dolphin.[5]

Keith S. Chambers and Doug Munro (1980) identify Niutao as the island that Francisco Mourelle de la Rúa sailed past on 5 May 1781, thus solving what Europeans had called The Mystery of Gran Cocal.[4][6] Mourelle's map and journal named the island El Gran Cocal ('The Great Coconut Plantation'); however, the latitude and longitude was uncertain.[6] Longitude could only be reckoned crudely as accurate chronometers were available until the late 18th century. Visits to the islands became more frequent in the 19th century.

The islands came under Britain's sphere of influence in the late 19th century. The Ellice Islands were administered by Britain as a protectorate as part of the British Western Pacific Territories from 1892 to 1916 and as part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony from 1916 to 1974. In 1974 the Ellice Islanders voted for separate British dependency status for Tuvalu, separating from the Gilbert Islands which became Kiribati upon independence. Tuvalu became fully independent within The Commonwealth in 1978. On 17 September 2000 Tuvalu became the 189th member of the United Nations.

General reference

Geography of Tuvalu

Fualefeke islet, Funafuti atoll
Main article: Geography of Tuvalu

The islands of Tuvalu are spread out between the latitude of 5° to 10° south and longitude of 176° to 180°, west of the International Date Line.[7]

Geographic coordinates: 5°41′S 176°12′E / 5.683°S 176.200°E / -5.683; 176.200 to 10°45′S 179°51′E / 10.750°S 179.850°E / -10.750; 179.850

Environment of Tuvalu

An enlargeable satellite image of the island of Funafuti in Tuvalu

Natural geographic features of Tuvalu

Lat. and Long. 8°19′S 179°08′E / 8.31°S 179.13°E / -8.31; 179.13 (Funafuti)

Tuvalu consists of three reef islands and six true atolls, whose highest point above the sea is five metres.[9]

Regions of Tuvalu

Main article: Islands of Tuvalu

Local government districts consisting of more than one islet:

Local government districts consisting of only one island:

Ecoregions of Tuvalu

Demography of Tuvalu

Government and politics of Tuvalu

Main article: Government of Tuvalu and Politics of Tuvalu

Branches of the government of Tuvalu

Main article: Government of Tuvalu

Executive branch of the government of Tuvalu

Legislative branch of the government of Tuvalu

Judicial branch of the government of Tuvalu

Foreign relations of Tuvalu

International organization membership

Tuvalu is a member of:[1]

Law and order in Tuvalu

Main article: Law of Tuvalu

Military of Tuvalu

Main article: Military of Tuvalu

There is no military in Tuvalu.

Local government in Tuvalu

History of Tuvalu

Main article: History of Tuvalu

Culture of Tuvalu

Main article: Culture of Tuvalu
Canoe carving on Nanumea

Art in Tuvalu

Sports in Tuvalu

Economy and infrastructure of Tuvalu

Main article: Economy of Tuvalu

Education in Tuvalu

Main article: Education in Tuvalu

Infrastructure of Tuvalu

Tuvalu Meteorological Service, Fongafale, Funafuti atoll

See also

English language edition of Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Main article: Tuvalu

References

  1. 1 2 "Tuvalu". The World Factbook. United States Central Intelligence Agency. July 2, 2009. Retrieved July 23, 2009.
  2. ↑ Dr A J Tilling & Ms E Fihaki (17 November 2009). Tuvalu National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PDF). Fourth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity. p. 7.
  3. 1 2 Maude, H.E. (1959). "Spanish Discoveries in the Central Pacific: A Study in Identification". 68 (4) The Journal of the Polynesian Society. pp. 284–326.
  4. 1 2 Keith S. Chambers & Doug Munro (1980). The Mystery of Gran Cocal: European Discovery and Mis-Discovery in Tuvalu. 89(2) The Journal of the Polynesian Society. pp. 167–198.
  5. ↑ "Circumnavigation: Notable global maritime circumnavigations". Solarnavigator.net. Retrieved 2009-07-20.
  6. 1 2 Laumua Kofe (1983). Tuvalu: A History, Palagi and Pastors, Ch. 15. Institute of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific and Government of Tuvalu.
  7. ↑ "Maps of Tuvalu". Retrieved 21 October 2011.
  8. ↑ "Tuvalu: Millennium Development Goal Acceleration Framework – Improving Quality of Education" (PDF). Ministry of Education and Sports, and Ministry of Finance and Economic Development from the Government of Tuvalu; and the United Nations System in the Pacific Islands. April 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  9. 1 2 3 "Tuvalu", CIA World Factbook

External links

Wikimedia Atlas of Tuvalu

Filmography

Documentary films about Tuvalu:

Bibliography

Further reading

Customs and Traditions
History
Language
Music and Dance
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Thursday, November 26, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.