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Vanuatu Cities with Hotels
 Vanuatu, formerly New Hebrides, independent republic in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, consisting of a group of about 70 islands. Among the principal islands are Espiritu Santo (the largest), Malakula, Efate, Erromango, and Ambrym. The total area is 14,763 sq km (5700 sq mi). The capital and largest city of Vanuatu is Port-Vila (population, 1989, 19,400), a port on Efate.
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Vanuatu
Land and Population
Some of the islands of Vanuatu are coral formations; most of them are of volcanic origin, and several volcanoes are active. The highest peak, Tabwémasana (1811 m/5942 ft), is on Espiritu Santo. Most of the islands are forested, and some have fertile soils. The climate is wet and tropical, with an average annual temperature of 25° C (77° F). Annual rainfall decreases from 3810 mm (150 in) in the northern part of the group to 2286 mm (90 in) in the south. The total population (1992 estimate) of 154,000 is largely Melanesian, with minorities of Europeans, Chinese, and Vietnamese. English, French, and Bislama are the official languages; numerous Melanesian languages are spoken. The majority of the people are Christian.
Economy and Government
The economy of Vanuatu is dominated by subsistence agriculture; food crops include yams, taro, and bananas. Copra is the principal export. Other export crops include cacao and coffee. Fishing and the raising of cattle for export are also important. In the late 1980s annual imports cost $57.9 million and exports earned $15.4 million. Tourism is expanding rapidly, and international airports are located at Port-Vila and on Espiritu Santo Island. The national currency is the vatu (119 vatu equal U.S.$1; 1990). Favorable tax laws have made Vanuatu an offshore banking haven.
Vanuatu is a republic, governed under a constitution that came into effect in 1980. The head of state is a president, who is elected to a five-year term. Executive power is vested in a council of ministers, which consists of a prime minister, who is elected by parliament, and other ministers appointed by the prime minister. Legislative power is vested in parliament, the 46 members of which are popularly elected to four-year terms.
History
The islands were sighted in 1606 by the Portuguese explorer Pedro de Queirós. They were visited in 1768 by the French navigator Louis Antoine de Bougainville and in 1774 by the British navigator Captain James Cook, who named them New Hebrides, after the similarly rugged Scottish Hebrides Islands. In 1887, the British and French established a joint naval commission to administer the islands. In 1906 the islands became a territory jointly administered by the British and French, where each power was to retain jurisdiction over its own citizens. During World War II (1939-1945) the United States established a large naval and air base on Espiritu Santo. In June 1980, just before the islands were to receive independence, a short-lived revolt on the island of Espiritu Santo was quelled by British marines. The New Hebrides became independent as Vanuatu on July 30, 1980.
"Vanuatu," Microsoft® Encarta® 97 Encyclopedia.
© 1993-1996 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
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Last Revised: November 15, 2008 03:57 PM. |
