Tuvalu - Geography

Tuvalu, formerly the Ellice Islands, is a group of atolls lying south of the equator in the western Pacific Ocean, south of Kiribati and north of the Fiji Islands. Funafuti, the main island and capital, lies 1,046km north of Suva, Fiji Islands. The other islands are Nanumanga, Nanumea, Niulakita, Niutao, Nui, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae and Vaitupu.

Area: 26 sq km, although the atolls extend in a chain 595km long.

Topography: The islands seldom rise higher than 4.5m above sea level. Five islands have large lagoons that are enclosed within the coral reef. The remaining four islands are pinnacles of land rising up solid from the seabed. Most people live on the island of Funafuti, on Funafuti Atoll.

Climate: The mean annual temperature is 30°C, with little seasonal variation, though March to October tends to be cooler. Humidity is high. Trade winds blow from the east for much of the year. Although the islands are north of the recognised hurricane belt, severe cyclones struck in 1894, 1972 and 1990. Rainfall is high, averaging 3,535mm p.a. The wettest season is November to February.

Environment: There are no streams or rivers in the country and ground water is not safe to drink; water needs are met by catchment of rainwater and, increasingly, by desalination. The Japanese Government has built one desalination plant and plans to build another. Some 40% of the island of Funafuti was severely damaged during the Second World War and is virtually uninhabitable. Other significant environmental issues are: beachhead erosion because of the removal of sand for building materials; excessive clearance of forest undergrowth for use as fuel; damage to coral reefs from the spread of the Crown of Thorns starfish; and rising sea level threatening the underground water table.

Vegetation: The heavy rainfall provides a more luxuriant vegetation than that on neighbouring Kiribati. Coconut palms cover most of the land.

Wildlife: Lizards, turtles and several resident species of birds are the most notable forms of indigenous animal life. Birds include the reef heron, white-tailed tropic-bird, terns and noddies.

Transport: Tuvalu has only a few roads (total extent 8km) and, before 2002 when tarring was completed, these were made from impacted coral and supplemented by dirt tracks.

There is a deep-water lagoon at Funafuti, which ships are able to enter at Nukufetau. The islands are served by a passenger and cargo vessel, based at Funafuti, which occasionally calls at Suva, Fiji Islands. Ships from Fiji Islands, Australia and New Zealand call at Funafuti.

The only airfield is on Funafuti, at the eastern tip of the island. In 1992 a new runway was completed with Commonwealth technical assistance and international funding, replacing the old grass airstrip. There are scheduled flights from Majuro in the Marshall Islands, Tarawa in Kiribati, and Nadi and Suva in Fiji Islands.