Vanuatu is a group of islands of volcanic origin in the South Pacific. Vanuatu is an independent republic within the United Kingdom commonwealth. Two of the islands (Matthew and Hunter) are also claimed by France.
Vanuatu comprises about 82 small islands of which 65 are lived on.
There is about 800 miles (1,300 km) north to south distance between the outermost islands.
Fourteen of Vanuatu's islands have surface areas of more than 100 square kilometres (39 sq mi).
The islands in this South Pacific archipelago were first reached from Europe in 1606 by a Spanish expedition led by Portuguese navigator Fernandes de Queirós. The islands were claimed by Spain which had a short-lived settlement there before they were forgotten again.
The Vanuatu islands were rediscovered in 1768 and in 1774 by Captain James Cook who named them the New Hebrides.
In the 1880s, France and the United Kingdom claimed parts of the archipelago. The New Hebrides (or Nouvelles Hebrides) were joint-administered by the two countries from 1906.
Half a million or more US troops poured into Vanuatu in preparation for a huge counter-offensive against the Japanese during World War II. Coconut plantations were cleared, local men were recruited as porters, and the colonial outposts of Port Vila and Luganville were transformed into bustling military hubs. As a result, Vanuatu managed to escape Japanese occupation during World War II.
On July 30, 1980 the New Hebrides became independent, within the Commonwealth, as the Republic of Vanuatu.
The first president was George Kalkoa, who adopted the name Sokomanu (leader of thousands), and the first Prime Minister was Father Walter Lini.
The name of Vanuatu, from two local words meaning ‘home' and ‘stand' was adopted on independence in 1980.
The constitution dates from independence in 1980. It provides for a president, who is a formal head of state , selected for five year term by electric college consisting of parliament and the presidents of the country's regional council.
Vanuatu has a population of 272,459 people (2016 census).
Their local language is a form of pidgin English known as Bislama. The official languages are Bislama, English and French.
Their national dish ‘laplap' is a root vegetable cake. It comprises vegetable paste, coconut milk and meat cooked in a banana leaf.
The highest point in Vanuatu is Mount Tabwemasana, at 1,879 metres (6,165 ft), on the island of Espiritu Santo.
The Vanuatu national anthem is “Yumi, yumi, yumi,” (We, we, we).
Bungee jumping originated as land diving, a ritual performed by the men of the southern part of Pentecost Island, Vanuatu. The men jump from the top of wooden towers around 20 to 30 meters (66 to 98 ft) high, with two tree vines wrapped around the ankles. It also acts as a coming-of-age ceremony for the youths who leap from lower platforms to demonstrate their courage.
Residents of one of the Vanuatu islands were devastated to learn of the retirement of Prince Philip in 2017. There's a cult in the small island nation called the Prince Phillip Movement that believes that the British Queen;s consort is a divine being. He once sent a signed picture of himself to them and they sent him a pig killing club. The followers of the cult had been waiting five decades in vain for him to visit — hoping that he would be able to cure all their diseases and fix their food shortages. (Every morning, they pray to the Duke of Edinburgh and ask him to bless their bananas.)
Sources BBC, Daily Express, Daily Mail
Vanuatu comprises about 82 small islands of which 65 are lived on.
There is about 800 miles (1,300 km) north to south distance between the outermost islands.
Fourteen of Vanuatu's islands have surface areas of more than 100 square kilometres (39 sq mi).
HISTORY
The islands in this South Pacific archipelago were first reached from Europe in 1606 by a Spanish expedition led by Portuguese navigator Fernandes de Queirós. The islands were claimed by Spain which had a short-lived settlement there before they were forgotten again.
The Vanuatu islands were rediscovered in 1768 and in 1774 by Captain James Cook who named them the New Hebrides.
 |
| James Cook landing at Tanna island, c. 1774 |
In the 1880s, France and the United Kingdom claimed parts of the archipelago. The New Hebrides (or Nouvelles Hebrides) were joint-administered by the two countries from 1906.
Half a million or more US troops poured into Vanuatu in preparation for a huge counter-offensive against the Japanese during World War II. Coconut plantations were cleared, local men were recruited as porters, and the colonial outposts of Port Vila and Luganville were transformed into bustling military hubs. As a result, Vanuatu managed to escape Japanese occupation during World War II.
On July 30, 1980 the New Hebrides became independent, within the Commonwealth, as the Republic of Vanuatu.
The first president was George Kalkoa, who adopted the name Sokomanu (leader of thousands), and the first Prime Minister was Father Walter Lini.
FUN VANUATU FACTS
The name of Vanuatu, from two local words meaning ‘home' and ‘stand' was adopted on independence in 1980.
The constitution dates from independence in 1980. It provides for a president, who is a formal head of state , selected for five year term by electric college consisting of parliament and the presidents of the country's regional council.
Vanuatu has a population of 272,459 people (2016 census).
Their local language is a form of pidgin English known as Bislama. The official languages are Bislama, English and French.
Their national dish ‘laplap' is a root vegetable cake. It comprises vegetable paste, coconut milk and meat cooked in a banana leaf.
 |
| Laplap. By Ronoleo - Wikipedis |
The highest point in Vanuatu is Mount Tabwemasana, at 1,879 metres (6,165 ft), on the island of Espiritu Santo.
The Vanuatu national anthem is “Yumi, yumi, yumi,” (We, we, we).
Bungee jumping originated as land diving, a ritual performed by the men of the southern part of Pentecost Island, Vanuatu. The men jump from the top of wooden towers around 20 to 30 meters (66 to 98 ft) high, with two tree vines wrapped around the ankles. It also acts as a coming-of-age ceremony for the youths who leap from lower platforms to demonstrate their courage.
 |
| A villager cuts the vines from a diver after a successful jump. By Paul Stein from New Jersey |
Residents of one of the Vanuatu islands were devastated to learn of the retirement of Prince Philip in 2017. There's a cult in the small island nation called the Prince Phillip Movement that believes that the British Queen;s consort is a divine being. He once sent a signed picture of himself to them and they sent him a pig killing club. The followers of the cult had been waiting five decades in vain for him to visit — hoping that he would be able to cure all their diseases and fix their food shortages. (Every morning, they pray to the Duke of Edinburgh and ask him to bless their bananas.)
Sources BBC, Daily Express, Daily Mail
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