Matuku

Matuku Island is located at the western point of the Lau archipelago , in the South Pacific , and is part of the island subgroup of Moala . It is washed by the waters of the Koro Sea . The nearest mainland, Australia , is approximately 2750 km away. ^[1] Matuku is a volcanic island with an area of ​​57 km² and the highest point reaches 385 m.

On the windward side of the island is covered with dense tropical forest. There are meadows, reeds and pandanus . The climate on Matuku is humid tropical . Subject to the negative effects of cyclones . ^[one]

In the past, the island has been under strong Tongan influence, serving as a “link” between the islands of Tonga and Fiji. ^{[2] The} European discoverer of Matuku is the British captain of the schooner "Resolution" Oliver, who explored the island in 1791 . The traveler, who had just parted with the Edward Edwards ship shortly before, was searching for the rebellious Bounty ship and spent five weeks on the island with his crew ^[3] . In 1827, the French navigator Dumont-Durville visited Matuku.

In the middle of the 19th century , the first Christian missionaries , the Tongan Methodists, appeared on the island. In 1853, Matuku was conquered by the Tongan leader Maafu . However, already in 1874 all the islands of Fiji came under the control of the British Empire . ^[2]