Vanuatu

Vanuatu, officially the Republic of Vanuatu, formerly the New Hebrides, independent republic consisting of 80 small islands, situated east of Australia and extending over some 500 mi (805 km) of the South Pacific Ocean.

Land

The overall area of the islands of Vanuatu is 4,707 sq mi (12,190 km). Espíritu Santo, the largest island, has an area of 1,542 sq mi (3,994 sq km). The capital, Vila, is on the second-largest island, Efâte. The islands are of volcanic origin and there are 6 active volcanos. The rugged mountainous interiors, densely covered with tropical rain forests, give way to narrow coastal strips where most of the islands' inhabitants live.

People

Almost all the people of Vanuatu are Melanesians. There are also small Chinese, British, and French minorities. The official languages are Bislama, English, and French.

Economy

About 70% of the people live in rural villages and pursue traditional subsistence farming. They grow coconuts and other fruits, yams, and taro; pigs are raised for food and ceremonial purposes. Local industries process copra, fish, and beef for export. Manganese has been mined since 1961, and tourism is increasing. Special tax laws have made Vanuatu a banking center and corporate haven.

History

There is evidence of human settlements on the islands as early as 1300 B.C., but the islands were not discovered by Europeans until the arrival of the Portuguese in 1606. The British and French explored the islands in the 18th century. During the 19th century, strife broke out between native inhabitants and British and French settlers. In 1906 a joint British-French condominium was established to rule the islands. In 1980, on the eve of independence, fighting broke out on Espiritu Santo where guerrillas were mounting an armed struggle for that island's secession. The fighting ended after British peacekeeping forces arrived. A 1987 hurricane caused much death and destruction. In the 1990s Vanuatu agreed to destroy a number of American chemical weapons on Johnston, a remote coral island.