Tuvalu Information

Information :

•  Full name: Tuvalu.

•  Capital City: Funafuti.

•  Language: Tuvalu, English and Samoan.

•  Currency: Australian Dollar.

•  Religion: Christian and Baha'i.

•  National Anthem: “Tuvalu Mo Te Atua” which means ‘Tuvalu for the Almighty'.

•  Newspaper (Online): EIN News, Event Polynesia, Inside Tuvalu, One World, Topix and Tuvalu Online.

•  Places to Visit: Funafuti, Tepuka Islet, Nukulaelae Atoll, Funafala Islet, Funafuti Marine Conservation Area and Nanumea Atoll.

•  Transport: Airways : International Airport at Funafuti; Waterways : from the US West Coast or Australia's northeast.

•  Shopping: handcrafted souvenirs are the best thing to shop for. For authentic wares and good bargains you can pick them up from the Tuvalu Women's Handicraft Centre and the Funafuti Women's Craft Centre.

Introduction of Tuvalu : formerly called the Ellice Islands by its colonizers, Tuvalu achieved freedom from the British Empire in the year 1975. It was a part the British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. The name of the island derives from the native word meaning “Cluster of Eight” – though there are actually nine islands.

Location of Tuvalu : located in the peripheral region of Polynesia, Tuvalu is situated in southern hemisphere, missing the Equator by a small margin. The Federated States of Micronesia lies to its north and the Fiji Islands to its south.

Physical Map of Tuvalu : Tuvalu is a collection of some nine land masses scattered in c close cluster in the central region of the Pacific Ocean. Of these nine, three are slightly bigger islands while the other six are atolls. Moreover, in addition to these there are also some 129 islets which are a part of the group. The names of the nine habitable land masses are Niutao, Funafuti, Nukufetau, Nanumaga, Niulakita, Nanumea, Nukulaelae, Nui and Vaitupu. The islands and atolls are reef-tables in origin. However, the soil on the islands is most unsuitable for agriculture. Most of the water bodies present within the islands is landlocked. The other formations in the islands are lagoons, which are a common sight.

Climate of Tuvalu : the phrase that best defines the climatic conditions of Tuvalu is the ‘typically tropical'. However, it is not merely tropical, it is also pleasantly so. Seasonal changes or even day-time and night-time changes of temperature record little or no variations. Precipitation on the islands is regular and sufficient and keeps the islands well watered.

Flora and Fauna of Tuvalu : the concentration of the flora and fauna in Tuvalu is found mostly in the water bodies that surround it. Fish and sea plants abound in the ocean around it. The land flora in Tuvalu is not as impressive. Most of the indigenous plants to be found in the land are coconut palms and pandanus. Aside of these, the other plants found on the islands are foreign imports; they are mostly the fruit bearing type. As far as fauna goes, the only native animal of Tuvalu is the Polynesian rat. The other animals in the island are of the domestic variety, like pigs, dogs and cats, and arrived with the foreign people who came to the island. However, in comparison to the lack in plants and animals on the mainland, the avian fauna thrives. Species such as terns, reef herons and noddies are found in abundance. One unique feature of the island is its variety of moths and butterflies. There is said to be over 25 species of them, but only 22 of them are known.

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