Viti Levu ( English Viti Levu ) - the largest island of Fiji , located in the Viti Levu group in the Pacific Ocean .
| Viti Levu | |
|---|---|
| English Viti levu | |
 | |
| Specifications | |
| Square | 10 388 km² |
| Highest point | 1324 m |
| Population | 580,000 people (1996) |
| Population density | 55.83 people / km² |
| Location | |
| Water area | Pacific Ocean |
| A country |
|
| Regions | Central District , Western District |
Content
Title
In local languages, Viti Levu is “Big Island” . Viti - the "island" , in a distorted form - this is Fiji.
Geography
The area of the island is 10,338 km². Length from west to east - 146 km, width from north to south - 106 km. Viti Levu is the sixth largest island in Oceania after Tasmania ( Australia ), North and South Islands ( New Zealand ), Hawaii and New Caledonia . The nearest mainland, Australia , is 2,700 km [1] . The Blaya Sea is located north of the island, from the neighboring Vanua Levu island it is separated by the Latu-i-ra Strait, and from the neighboring small islands in the south by the Kandavu Strait. To the north-east of Viti Levu is a group of small islands of Yasawa .
The island has a mixed volcanic and continental origin [1] . The surface of Viti Levu is rugged (caused by volcanic eruptions and earthquakes in the past), and in the center there is a mountain range that divides the island into two equal parts. The highest point of Viti Levu and at the same time Fiji is Mount Tomaniivi (1324 m).
Fiji Islands are part of the subequatorial climate zone . Temperature - 24 - 29 ° C. The amount of precipitation is 2000-3000 mm per year. The weather hardly changes during the seasons, only the winters are drier. On Viti Levu itself, the climate is the same as on other islands; the climate on the windward side (more humid) and on the leeward side (drier) differs. The island is exposed to tropical cyclones and fires [1] .
Flora and fauna of Viti Levu are very diverse. The lowlands, like mountain ranges, are covered with rain forests. There are mangroves [1] . Endemic species such as the giant barbel beetle Xixuthrus heros , Vuleito palm, coniferous trees Dacrydium nausoriense and Acmopyle sahniana live only on this island.
Population
The island is the capital of the Republic of Fiji, Suva . The second largest city is Nadi ( Nadi ), with an airport, a three-hour drive from Suva.
A significant diaspora of immigrants from India lives on Viti Levu.
Administrative Division
Eight of the fourteen provinces of Fiji are located on the island. The provinces of Mba , Nadrog-Navos and Ra are part of the Western District , and Naitashiri , Namosi , Reva , Serua and Thailand are part of the Central District .
Economics
Sugar cane is grown in the western part of Viti Levu, and dairy farming in the eastern part.
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 UN SYSTEM-WIDE EARTHWATCH Web Site . Fiji Islands. (eng.)
Literature
- Geographical Encyclopedic Dictionary, M.: “Soviet Encyclopedia”, 1986
- Federal Service for Geodesy and Cartography of Russia, Atlas of the World, M., 1999.