This coral and volcanic island has a land area of 53 square kilometres (20 square miles). Its maximum elevation is 283 metres (928 feet). The island is characterized by steep undercut cliffs with fertile volcanic soil. It is well watered and has hot springs. There is an extensive reef system, including the islets of Qilaqila also known as the Bay of Islands. The traditional owners of Qilaqila are the iTaukei, the mataqalis' from Mavana Village. All visitors to Qilaqila must do sevusevu and have received permission from the village elders of Daliconi Village to visit.
The main village on the island is Lomaloma. Vanua Balavu has an airstrip, a post office in Lomaloma copra port, and a small hospital. There was also the Lomaloma Copra Biofuel Project which provided power to three villages, Naqara, Sawana and Lomaloma, however, it is now defunct.
Points of interestedit
A large sea cave, named Qaranilaca, on the southeastern tip of Vanua Balavu was excavated in 2000 and shown to have been used by humans more than 10 centuries ago.[2]
Notable peopleedit
A notable person from Vanua Balavu is Laisenia Qarase, Fiji's Prime Minister from 2000 to 2006, who hails from the village of Mavana. Other prominent Vanua Balavu natives are the academic leader Esther Williams, from Levukana village, former Attorney-GeneralQoriniasi Bale, from Levukana village, and prominent former politician Filipe Bole, also from Mualevu village. Charles Walker, a former politician and Fiji diplomat hails from Sawana village with Lavinia Wainiqolo Padarath; a staunch trade unionist and former politician, Walker served as a Minister for Women and Social Welfare under the Fiji Labour Party election win in 1999.
Mere Samisoni, businesswoman and politician, comes from the village of Lomaloma, as does the former Lami Mayor Tevita Vuatalevu, who hails from the village of Mavana. Current Flying Fijians Josh Matavesi and Sam Matavesi who were born and raised in Cornwall, England are also a native of Vanua Balavu through their paternal line.
Beach on Vanua BalavuMen loading bags of copra and other crops onto an inter-island vessel at Lomaloma wharf, Vanua Balavu for markets in Suva the capital of Fiji.
Referencesedit
^Gillespie, Rosemary G.; D. A. Clague (2009). Encyclopedia of Islands. University of California Press. p. 299. ISBN978-0520256491. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
^Thomas, Frank R.; Nunn, Patrick D.; Osborne, Tamara; Kumar, Roselyn; Areki, Francis; Matararaba, Sepeti; Steadman, David; Hope, Geoff (April 2004). "Recent archaeological findings at Qaranilaca Cave, Vanuabalavu Island, Fiji". Archaeology in Oceania. 39 (1): 42–49. doi:10.1002/j.1834-4453.2004.tb00556.x. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
Fiji, By Korina Miller, Robyn Jones, Leonardo Pinheiro, Published by Lonely Planet - Page 237
External linksedit
Reference to the Geography of Vanuabalavu 2015-03-03 at the Wayback Machine
This article about a geographical location in Fiji is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
vanua, balavu, pronounced, βaˈnua, mbaˈlaβu, third, largest, island, fiji, archipelago, main, island, northern, group, location, groupgeographylocationfijicoordinates17, 950archipelagonorthern, islandsadjacent, tokoro, seatotal, islands1major, islands1area57, . Vanua Balavu pronounced baˈnua mbaˈlabu is the third largest island in Fiji s Lau archipelago and the main island of the Northern Lau Group Vanua BalavuLocation in the Lau GroupGeographyLocationFijiCoordinates17 14 S 178 57 W 17 233 S 178 950 W 17 233 178 950ArchipelagoNorthern Lau IslandsAdjacent toKoro SeaTotal islands1Major islands1Area57 km2 22 sq mi 1 Length21 km 13 mi Highest elevation283 m 928 ft AdministrationFijiDivisionEasternProvinceLau ProvinceSub ProvinceNorthern Lau IslandsLargest settlementLomaloma pop 250 DemographicsPopulation1200 2014 Pop density21 05 km2 54 52 sq mi Ethnic groupsNative Fijians Indo Fijians other Asian Europeans other Pacific Islander Map of Vanua Balavu Contents 1 Geography and infrastructure 2 Points of interest 3 Notable people 4 References 5 External linksGeography and infrastructure editThis coral and volcanic island has a land area of 53 square kilometres 20 square miles Its maximum elevation is 283 metres 928 feet The island is characterized by steep undercut cliffs with fertile volcanic soil It is well watered and has hot springs There is an extensive reef system including the islets of Qilaqila also known as the Bay of Islands The traditional owners of Qilaqila are the iTaukei the mataqalis from Mavana Village All visitors to Qilaqila must do sevusevu and have received permission from the village elders of Daliconi Village to visit The main village on the island is Lomaloma Vanua Balavu has an airstrip a post office in Lomaloma copra port and a small hospital There was also the Lomaloma Copra Biofuel Project which provided power to three villages Naqara Sawana and Lomaloma however it is now defunct Points of interest editA large sea cave named Qaranilaca on the southeastern tip of Vanua Balavu was excavated in 2000 and shown to have been used by humans more than 10 centuries ago 2 Notable people editA notable person from Vanua Balavu is Laisenia Qarase Fiji s Prime Minister from 2000 to 2006 who hails from the village of Mavana Other prominent Vanua Balavu natives are the academic leader Esther Williams from Levukana village former Attorney General Qoriniasi Bale from Levukana village and prominent former politician Filipe Bole also from Mualevu village Charles Walker a former politician and Fiji diplomat hails from Sawana village with Lavinia Wainiqolo Padarath a staunch trade unionist and former politician Walker served as a Minister for Women and Social Welfare under the Fiji Labour Party election win in 1999 Mere Samisoni businesswoman and politician comes from the village of Lomaloma as does the former Lami Mayor Tevita Vuatalevu who hails from the village of Mavana Current Flying Fijians Josh Matavesi and Sam Matavesi who were born and raised in Cornwall England are also a native of Vanua Balavu through their paternal line nbsp Beach on Vanua Balavu nbsp Men loading bags of copra and other crops onto an inter island vessel at Lomaloma wharf Vanua Balavu for markets in Suva the capital of Fiji References edit Gillespie Rosemary G D A Clague 2009 Encyclopedia of Islands University of California Press p 299 ISBN 978 0520256491 Retrieved 18 March 2014 Thomas Frank R Nunn Patrick D Osborne Tamara Kumar Roselyn Areki Francis Matararaba Sepeti Steadman David Hope Geoff April 2004 Recent archaeological findings at Qaranilaca Cave Vanuabalavu Island Fiji Archaeology in Oceania 39 1 42 49 doi 10 1002 j 1834 4453 2004 tb00556 x Retrieved 23 July 2023 Fiji By Korina Miller Robyn Jones Leonardo Pinheiro Published by Lonely Planet Page 237External links editReference to the Geography of Vanuabalavu Archived 2015 03 03 at the Wayback Machine Lomaloma Bio Fuel Project Moana s Guest House Vanua Balavu nbsp This article about a geographical location in Fiji is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vanua Balavu amp oldid 1189745661, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
