Geography of Vanuatu – The Ultimate Free Guide 2021
Learn facts and Geography of Vanuatu including Major Geographical Features, Natural resources, Region, area, Capital, Border countries, rivers in Vanuatu.
- Vanuatu, officially the Republic of Vanuatu, is an island country located in the South Pacific Ocean.
- The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is 1,750 kilometers (1,090 mi) east of northern Australia, 540 kilometers (340 mi) northeast of New Caledonia, east of New Guinea, southeast of the Solomon Islands, and west of Fiji.
- Vanuatu was first inhabited by Melanesian people.
- The first Europeans to visit the islands were a Spanish expedition led by Portuguese navigator Fernandes de Queirós, who arrived on the largest island, Espíritu Santo, in 1606.
- Queirós claimed the archipelago for Spain, as part of the colonial Spanish East Indies, and named it La Australia del Espíritu Santo.
- In the 1880s, France and the United Kingdom claimed parts of the archipelago, and in 1906, they agreed on a framework for jointly managing the archipelago as the New Hebrides through an Anglo-French condominium.
- An independence movement arose in the 1970s, and the Republic of Vanuatu was founded in 1980. Since independence, the country has become a member of the United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, Organization internationale de la Francophonie and the Pacific Islands Forum.
- Natural disasters include tropical cyclones or typhoons from January to April and volcanic activity which sometimes causes minor earthquakes. Tsunamis are also a hazard.
Geography of Vanuatu
Region:
Pacific Ocean
Area:
Ranked 157th
Capital:
Port Vila
Population:
307,815
Bordering Countries:
Islands are surrounded by water on all sides, implying that Vanuatu does not share borders with any other countries or nations. Despite this, Vanuatu can be found to the west of Fiji and the east of Australia.
Total Size:
12,189 km2
Geographical Coordinates:
16°00′S 167°00′E
World Region or Continent:
Oceania
General Terrain:
- Vanuatu is a mountainous archipelago of volcanic origin with narrow coastal plains.
Geographical Low Point:
Pacific Ocean 0 metres (0 ft)
Geographical High Point:
Mount Tabwemasana 1,877 metres (6,158 ft)
Climate:
- The climate is tropical, with about nine months of warm to hot rainy weather and the possibility of cyclones and three to four months of cooler, drier weather characterized by winds from the southeast.
- The water temperature ranges from 22 °C (72 °F) in winter to 28 °C (82 °F) in the summer. Cool between April and September, the days become hotter and more humid starting in October.
- The daily temperature ranges from 20–32 °C (68–90 °F). Southeasterly trade winds occur from May to October.
Major cities:
- Port Vila
- Luganville
- Norsup
- Port-Olry
- Isangel
- Sola
- Lakatoro
Major Land forms:
- Vanuatu is a mountainous archipelago of volcanic origin with narrow coastal plains.
- The highest of all the mountains is Mount Tabwemasana at 1,877 metres (6,158 ft). Its tropical climate is moderated by southeast trade winds, and its natural resources include, hardwood forests, and fish.
Major Rivers and Lakes:
- The Jordan River, on the island of Espíritu Santo, is the largest river in the Vanuatu archipelago.
- Lake Letas is the largest lake in Vanuatu, located in the center of the volcanic island of Gaua of the Banks Islands in northern Vanuatu.
Natural Resources:
The main natural resources of this island country are manganese, hardwood forests, and fish.
Major Geographical Features:
Biomes & Ecosystems:
Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
Topography:
Vanuatu is a mountainous archipelago of volcanic origin with narrow coastal plains.
Oceans:
South Pacific Ocean.
Islands:
- Torres Islands
- Banks Islands
- Sanma Province
- Penama Province
- Malampa Province
- Shefa Province
Mountain Ranges:
- Mount Tabwemasana
- Cotamtam
- Pic Santo
- Matsimen
- Naenpoé
- Paramavok
- Mount Lolohoe
Provinces of Vanuatu :
Vanuatu has been divided into the six provinces.
- The provinces are Malampa,
- Penama,
- Sanma,
- Shefa,
- Tafea, and
- Torba.
See Also:
References:
Geography of Vanuatu – Wikipedia
