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Archipelago

    Fiji

    18°00′S 178°00′E

    Fiji

    Part of Melanesia

    Fiji, officially the Republic of Fiji, is an archipelagic country in the Melanesia region of Oceania, in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about 1,100 nautical miles (2,000 km; 1,300 mi) north-northeast of New Zealand.

    Chart

    1043 landforms

    Overview

    Fiji, officially the Republic of Fiji, is an archipelagic country in the Melanesia region of Oceania, in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about 1,100 nautical miles (2,000 km; 1,300 mi) north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists of an archipelago of more than 330 islands — of which about 110 are permanently inhabited — and more than 500 islets, amounting to a total land area of about 18,300 square kilometres (7,100 sq mi). The most outlying island group is Ono-i-Lau. About 87% of the total population live on the two major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. About three-quarters of Fijians live on Viti Levu's coasts, either in the capital city of Suva, or in smaller urban centres such as Nadi (where tourism is the major local industry) or Lautoka (where the sugar-cane industry is dominant). The interior of Viti Levu is sparsely inhabited because of its terrain. The majority of Fiji's islands were formed by volcanic activity starting around 150 million years ago. Some geothermal activity still occurs today on the islands of Vanua Levu and Taveuni. The geothermal systems on Viti Levu are non-volcanic in origin and have low-temperature surface discharges of between roughly 35 and 60 degrees Celsius (95 and 140 °F). Humans have lived in Fiji since the second millennium BC — first Austronesians and later Melanesians, with some Polynesian influences. Europeans first visited Fiji in the 17th century. In 1874, after a brief period in which Fiji was an independent kingdom, the British established the Colony of Fiji. Fiji operated as a Crown colony until 1970, when it gained independence and became known as the Dominion of Fiji. In 1987, following a series of coups d'état, the military government that had taken power declared it a republic. In a 2006 coup, Commodore Frank Bainimarama seized power. In 2009, the Fijian High Court ruled that the military leadership was unlawful. At that point, President Ratu Josefa Iloilo, whom the military had retained as the nominal head of state, formally abrogated the 1997 Constitution and re-appointed Bainimarama as interim prime minister. Later in 2009, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau succeeded Iloilo as president. On 17 September 2014, after years of delays, a democratic election took place. Bainimarama's FijiFirst party won 59.2% of the vote, and international observers deemed the election credible. Fiji has one of the most developed economies in the Pacific, based mainly on tourism but also on exports deriving from its abundant forest, mineral, and fish resources. The currency is the Fijian dollar, with the main sources of foreign exchange being the tourist industry, remittances from Fijians working abroad, bottled water exports, and sugar cane. The Ministry of Local Government and Urban Development supervises Fiji's local government, which takes the form of city and town councils.

    From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Census, cataloged

    • Major islands2
    • Minor islands280
    • Islets583
    • Rocks & skerries178

    Major islands

    2
    • Viti Levu

      Viti Levu

      Area
      10,637 km²
      High point
      1,324 m

      Viti Levu (Fijian: [ˈβitʃi ˈleβu]; lit. 'Great Fiji') is the largest island in Fiji. It is the site of the country's capital and largest city, Suva, and home to a large majority of Fiji's population.

    • Vanua Levu

      Vanua Levu

      Area
      5,690 km²
      High point
      1,032 m

      Vanua Levu, formerly known as Sandalwood Island, is the second largest island of Fiji. Located 64 kilometres (40 miles) to the north of the larger Viti Levu, the island has an area of 5,587.1 square kilometres (2,157.2 sq mi) and a population of approximately 160,000 as of 2022.

    Minor islands

    198

    Rocks & skerries

    178

    On the chart above, at its closest zooms.

    Listing 200 of 1043; the rest are on the chart.

    Figures

    Comparative heights

    Sea level500 m1,000 m1,500 m1,324 mViti Levu1,241 mTaveuni1,032 mVanua Levu838 mKadavu700 mGau622 mOvalau553 mKoro535 mWaya462 mRabi460 mMoala431 mBeqa370 mMatuku352 mNairai345 mWayasewa
    High points by island, metres above sea level.

    Islands by area

    0.11101001,00010,000100,000Viti Levu: 10,637 km²Viti LevuVanua Levu: 5,690 km²Vanua LevuKadavu: 442 km²KadavuTaveuni: 436 km²TaveuniGau: 141 km²GauOvalau: 106 km²OvalauKoro: 104 km²KoroRabi: 67.1 km²RabiMoala: 65.4 km²MoalaLakeba: 58.8 km²LakebaVanua Balavu: 52.5 km²Vanua BalavuRotuma: 44.3 km²RotumaBeqa: 37.5 km²BeqaQamea: 35.1 km²QameaCicia: 34.8 km²CiciaNaviti: 34.8 km²NavitiKabara: 31.7 km²KabaraYasawa: 31.4 km²YasawaTotoya: 30.7 km²TotoyaVatulele: 30.6 km²VatuleleOno: 30.4 km²OnoMatuku: 29.7 km²MatukuNairai: 24.6 km²NairaiWaya: 22.1 km²WayaNacula: 21.9 km²NaculaMago: 21.9 km²MagoNayau: 19.1 km²NayauKioa: 18.6 km²KioaUnnamed island: 17 km²Unnamed islandFulaga: 16.5 km²FulagaMoturiki: 14.7 km²MoturikiYandua: 14.1 km²YanduaTuvuca: 13.3 km²TuvucaKanacea: 12.6 km²KanaceaThikombia: 12.5 km²ThikombiaLaucala: 12.4 km²LaucalaNandongo: 12.3 km²NandongoBatiki: 12 km²BatikiMoce: 10.9 km²MoceNamuka-i-Lau: 10.4 km²Namuka-i-Lau
    km², log scale
    Viti Levu10,637 km²
    Vanua Levu5,690 km²
    Kadavu Island442 km²
    Taveuni436 km²
    Gau Island141 km²
    Ovalau106 km²
    Koro Island104 km²
    Rabi Island67.1 km²
    Moala Island65.4 km²
    Lakeba58.8 km²
    Vanua Balavu52.5 km²
    Rotuma Island44.3 km²
    Beqa37.5 km²
    Qamea35.1 km²
    Cicia34.8 km²
    Naviti34.8 km²
    Kabara31.7 km²
    Yasawa31.4 km²
    Totoya30.7 km²
    Vatulele30.6 km²
    Ono Island30.4 km²
    Matuku Island29.7 km²
    Nairai24.6 km²
    Waya Island22.1 km²
    Nacula21.9 km²
    Mago Island21.9 km²
    Nayau19.1 km²
    Kioa18.6 km²
    Unnamed island17 km²
    Fulaga16.5 km²
    Moturiki14.7 km²
    Yandua Island14.1 km²
    Tuvuca13.3 km²
    Kanacea12.6 km²
    Thikombia Island12.5 km²
    Laucala Island12.4 km²
    Nandongo Island12.3 km²
    Batiki12 km²
    Moce Island10.9 km²
    Namuka-i-Lau10.4 km²
    Ogea Levu10.3 km²
    Malolo10.2 km²
    Yaqaga Island9.7 km²
    Batiki9.7 km²
    Matacawa Levu Island9.6 km²
    Wakaya Island9 km²
    Makogai8.5 km²
    Yacata8.4 km²
    Vuaqava8.4 km²
    Yaqeta7.3 km²
    Naitaba7.3 km²
    Ono-i-Lau7.1 km²
    Mali Island6.8 km²
    Talailau Island6.4 km²
    Wayasewa Island6.4 km²
    Nukuira Island5.4 km²
    Ogea Driki5.1 km²
    Malake Island4.9 km²
    Munia Island4.7 km²
    Viwa Island4.6 km²
    Oneata Island4.5 km²
    Vanua Vatu4.1 km²
    Vatoa4 km²
    Druadrua Island3.9 km²
    Laucala3.7 km²
    Unnamed island3.5 km²
    Susui Island3.5 km²
    Vatu Vara3.4 km²
    Galoa Island3.4 km²
    Mathuata-i-Wai Island3.1 km²
    Unnamed island3.1 km²
    Nananu-i-Ra2.9 km²
    Nanuya Levu2.9 km²
    Matanuku Island2.7 km²
    Thikombia-i-Lau2.7 km²
    Unnamed island2.7 km²
    Thukini Island2.5 km²
    Nananu-i-Cake2.4 km²
    Avea Island2.3 km²
    Malolo Lailai2.3 km²
    Yagasa Levu2.2 km²
    Naigani2.1 km²
    Doi1.9 km²
    Tavua Island1.9 km²
    Yanuca1.8 km²
    Namalata Island1.8 km²
    Buliya Island1.7 km²
    Komo1.7 km²
    Unnamed island1.7 km²
    Nangano Island1.7 km²
    Kia Island1.6 km²
    Tavewa1.6 km²
    Kaibu1.5 km²
    Qelelevu1.5 km²
    Kuata1.5 km²
    Yanuca Levu1.4 km²
    Taininbeka1.4 km²
    Yawalo Island1.3 km²
    Navutu-i-Loma1.3 km²
    Tavuca Island1.2 km²
    Mana Island1.2 km²
    Marabo island1.1 km²
    Unnamed island1.1 km²
    Yanuca Island1 km²
    Yanuya Island0.97 km²
    Ngaloa Island0.95 km²
    Vomo Island0.92 km²
    Matagi Island0.92 km²
    Sawa-i-Lau Island0.91 km²
    Nanuya Balavu Island0.89 km²
    Nggilanggila Island0.89 km²
    Makondronga Island0.86 km²
    Tokoriki0.84 km²
    Unnamed island0.83 km²
    Nasoata Island0.8 km²
    Navutu-i-Ra0.8 km²
    Ngevo Island0.8 km²
    Katafanga0.79 km²
    Unnamed island0.78 km²
    Vatia Sewa Island0.78 km²
    Dravuni0.78 km²
    Unnamed island0.74 km²
    Unnamed island0.73 km²
    Tuvana-i-Ra0.73 km²
    Naqara Island0.72 km²
    Yadua Tabu0.72 km²
    Ndrawangga Island0.71 km²
    Unnamed island0.69 km²
    Aiwa Island0.68 km²
    Uea0.65 km²
    Unnamed island0.65 km²
    Castaway Island0.63 km²
    Unnamed island0.63 km²
    Yavu Island0.63 km²
    Unnamed island0.61 km²
    Yaukuvelevu Island0.59 km²
    Udui0.57 km²
    Unnamed island0.54 km²
    Naukacuvu Island0.54 km²
    Yanuca Lailai0.53 km²
    Narara Island0.52 km²
    Unnamed island0.48 km²
    Unnamed island0.48 km²
    Micah Island0.47 km²
    Nukunuku Island0.46 km²
    Namena Lala0.45 km²
    Unnamed island0.45 km²
    Unnamed island0.44 km²
    Unnamed island0.44 km²
    Tovu Island0.43 km²
    Vetauua Island0.43 km²
    Monuriki0.43 km²
    Unnamed island0.42 km²
    Nggata Island0.42 km²
    Tuvana-i-Colo0.42 km²
    Vorovoro0.39 km²
    Unnamed island0.37 km²
    Mathuata Island0.35 km²
    Yawini Island0.35 km²
    Wailagi Lala0.34 km²
    Kadomo0.33 km²
    Vawa Island0.33 km²
    Unnamed island0.32 km²
    Ndavura Island0.31 km²
    Unnamed island0.31 km²
    Olorua0.3 km²
    Nukutagasa Island0.3 km²
    Unnamed island0.3 km²
    Jiliva0.29 km²
    Unnamed island0.29 km²
    Karoni Island0.29 km²
    Unnamed island0.29 km²
    Yalewa Kalou0.27 km²
    Unnamed island0.27 km²
    Viubani Island0.26 km²
    Nawi Island0.25 km²
    Kamba Island0.25 km²
    Unnamed island0.25 km²
    Unnamed island0.25 km²
    Maqewa0.24 km²
    Omini Island0.24 km²
    Unnamed island0.24 km²
    Unnamed island0.23 km²
    Unnamed island0.22 km²
    Unnamed island0.22 km²
    Unnamed island0.22 km²
    Vurolevo0.22 km²
    Unnamed island0.21 km²
    Kadavulailai0.21 km²
    Unnamed island0.21 km²
    Moturiki Island0.2 km²
    Unnamed island0.2 km²
    Namuka Island0.2 km²
    Unnamed island0.2 km²
    Vanuakula Island0.19 km²
    Yanuthangi Island0.19 km²
    Ndelainamara0.19 km²
    Yaukuvelailai Island0.18 km²
    Tilangitha Island0.18 km²
    Nggoma Island0.18 km²

    Groups within

    8

    Overlapping groups

    Sources

    Facts

    • Geometry, areas and high points: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Copernicus GLO-30, via Talus.
    • Wikidata
    • Wikipedia

    Photographs