Wallis Islands

the Wallis group consists of the comparatively large island of Uvea (an area of ​​77.9 km² ^[1] and 22 smaller islands. The total area of ​​the group (including the lagoon) is 159 km² ^[2] . Uvea is a low volcanic island. The highest point is Lulu- Fakhega ( Lulu-Fakahega ) 151 m high. The cones of the craters of extinct volcanoes form hills in the center and in the south of the island (Loka, Afafa, Lulu Luo, Holo, Hologa, Atalik, etc.). The northern part of the island is a plain flooded with ancient streams lava, the Wallis Islands are surrounded by a barrier reef, and the islands' barrier barrier is asymmetrical. on the other side, it is further from the main island of Uvea, on the same side there are 19 islands in the reef, on the western side it is closer and three of the four passes (Fatumanini, Fugauvea and Avatolu) are located in it. The fourth pass - Honikulu - is located on in the south (the channel leads through it to the port of Mata-Utu, the administrative center of the territory). The eastern part of the lagoon is the deepest (40 m in the bay of Mata-Utu) ^[3] . The western part is smaller. The greatest width is 5 km. During the day, there are two full tides . The lagoon is dotted with 22 small islands (Nukufotu (the northernmost island of the group), Nukulaelae, Nukufufulanoa, Nukuloa, Uluiutu, Nukuteatea, Nukutapu (northern), Luaniva, Thekaviki, Nukuhione, Nukuatea, Faioa, Fenua Fu (the southernmost island) , Nukuhifala (the easternmost island of the group), Nukutapu (southern), Nukumotu, Nuku'taaki'moa, Nukuofa, Nukufetau, Nukutaakemuku, Haofa), some of which are coral , and the other is of volcanic origin.

The high islands of the Wallis group are composed of olivine basaltic lavas and pyroclases , with the exception of one extinct crater on Uvea and the associated lava flows composed of oligoclase andesites. The low islands are composed of calcareous sand or are the destroyed remains of tuff cones and lava domes ^[4] . The lavas of the Wallis Islands belong to the group of alkaline lavas of the Central Pacific volcanoes ^[5] .

The island of Uvea was formed by the union of lava flows from 19 volcanic craters. With the exception of two young lava flows, only covered with soil, most of the island is composed of lava flows from the middle of the Pleistocene . Lavas of intermediate age do not exist.

The hydrographic network on the Wallis Islands is poorly developed. On the islands there are 7 large lakes by local standards (Lano, Lalolalo, Lanumaha, Lanutavake, Lanutoli, Kikila, Alofivai). All of them, except Lanutoli, are fresh and fill the craters of the extinct volcanoes of the island of Uvea (except Kikila). The largest lake is Kikila (17.9 ha ^[6] ). In addition, there are about 20 salt lakes / marshes along the north and east coasts of the main island. Numerous short streams and springs (found also on small islands of the group). The island of Uvea is covered with reddish lateritic soils rich in iron oxide and alumina, but poor in nitrogen and phosphorus, and therefore infertile. The same soils are characteristic of other volcanic islands of the Wallis group. The soil of the remaining islands of the group is represented by carbonate sand.

The islands were discovered by Europeans in 1767 and named after their discoverer Semuel Wallis . Since 1842, the islands belong to France .

According to the 2008 census, 9,227 people lived on the islands ^[7] . The largest settlement of the islands is Mata-Utu , where 1124 people live ^[7] . In total there are 21 settlements on the islands. Most of the population is Wallis (uvea). The main languages ​​are Wallis (Uvean) and French . The main religion is Catholicism .

The Wallis Islands consist of one county of Uvea , which in turn is divided into three districts:

Agriculture and animal husbandry occupy the first place for almost all the inhabitants of the islands. Agricultural products are mainly designed to meet their own needs and in most cases do not enter the market. Fishing, the development of which pays great attention to the authorities of the territory, has not yet developed even to meet local demand. Although in the medium term, it is planned to grow this industry and build a fishing port.

Currency - French Pacific franc (CFP franc). As of May 31, 2009, 85.45 francs of CFP were given for 1 US dollar ^[9]

• Uwea
• Wallis and Futuna
• Horn islands

• UEA (Wallis) // Uji - Fidel. - M .: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1956. - P. 472. - ( Great Soviet Encyclopedia : [in 51 vols.] / Ch. Ed. B. A. Vvedensky ; 1949-1958, vol. 44).