Vaitupu

Vaitupu, largest island of the Pacific nation of Tuvalu, is located at 7.48 degrees south and 178.83 degrees west.

Contents

3 How to get here, transportation and tourism

Demographics and history

Vaitupu is home to the second-largest population in Tuvalu, numbering about 1,200 residents. 600 students from ages 13 and 21 are sent here from throughout the archipelago to attend the country's only secondary school, Motufoua . Despite its relatively large size, the island became so overcrowded during the 1940s that several families migrated to Fiji.

Vaitupu received worldwide attention in 2000, when a fire in a dormitory at the Motufoua school killed 18 girls and an adult supervisor. It was later discovered that the fire was caused by a student using a candle to read during the night. The late Prime Minister Ionatana Ionatana declared a national tragedy and quickly traveled to the island to witness the aftermath.

Geography

All

The island, which covers approximately 5.6 square kilometers, includes swamps, mangroves, a fringing coral reef and a large lagoon.

Islands

Vaitupu consists of at least 9 islands, which are:

Luasamotu
Mosana (group of 2)
Motutanifa
Temotu
Te Motu Olepa
Tofia
Vaitupu proper
And at least 1 other isle

There is at least 1 isle inhabited, which is Vaitupu proper.

The biggest island is of course Vaitupu proper, which is followed by Tofia .

Inhabited

The only village on Vaitupu consists of the neighbourhoods Tumaseu and Asau . There is a church, a primary school, at least one guesthouse and a post office. The secondary school (Motufoua ) lies on plusminus 2 kilometres, and the hospital on about 1 km.

How to get here, transportation and tourism

Today, Vaitupu can be accessed by either private boat or the government-operated MV Nivaga II at irregular intervals from Funafuti. There are paths. In the village is a guesthouse.