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Archipelago

    Pacific OceanFiji

    18°50′S 179°56′W

    Moala Islands

    Part of Lau Islands

    The Moala Islands are a subgroup of Fiji's Lau archipelago. Its three islands (Matuku, Moala, and Totoya) have a total land area of approximately 119 km2. They are located west of the Lau Islands proper, and were historically linked more closely with Bau Island and Viti Levu than with Lau.

    NASA astronaut image of Matuku, Moala Group, Lau Archipelago, Fiji
    NASA astronaut image of Matuku, Moala Group, Lau Archipelago, Fiji

    Image courtesy of Earth Sciences and Image Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center / Public domain

    Chart

    8 landforms

    Overview

    The Moala Islands are a subgroup of Fiji's Lau archipelago. Its three islands (Matuku, Moala, and Totoya) have a total land area of approximately 119 km2. They are located west of the Lau Islands proper, and were historically linked more closely with Bau Island and Viti Levu than with Lau. They were unified by Ratu Sukuna to the Lau congregation to support traditional gifting through provision of taro and other vegetables. All three islands were defeated by Enele Maafu. The Tongan Prince later the Tui Lau subdued them and enforced Christianity. The main economic activity of the Moala Islands is coconut farming, and root crop farming including marine agriculture and fisheries. As of 2009, there was no accommodation for visitors on the Moala Islands.

    From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Census, cataloged

    • Major islands3
    • Minor islands0
    • Islets4
    • Rocks & skerries1

    Major islands

    3
    • Totoya

      Totoya

      Area
      30.7 km²
      High point
      340 m

      Totoya is a volcanic island and tikina in the Moala subgroup of Fiji's Lau archipelago. It occupies an area of 28 km2, making it the smallest of the Yasayasa Moala Group. Its maximum elevation is 366 metres (1,201 feet) above sea level. The main economic activity is coconut farming.

    • Matuku Island

      Matuku Island

      Area
      29.7 km²
      High point
      370 m

      Matuku is a volcanic island in the Moala subgroup of Fiji's Lau archipelago. Located at 19.18° South and 179.75° East, Matuku covers an area of 57 square kilometers. It has a maximum elevation of 385 meters. Matuku is part of a group of islands known as Yasayasa Moala.

    • Moala Island

      Area
      65.4 km²
      High point
      460 m

      Moala is a volcanic island in the Moala subgroup of Fiji's Lau archipelago. 1 sq mi), making it the ninth largest island of Fiji. The highest point on the island of Moala, at a maximum elevation of 468 meters (1,535 ft), is called Delaimoala which has rich vegetation and consists of dark thick forest.

    Islets

    4
    • Unnamed island36 m · 0.03 km²
    • Unnamed island17 m · 0.6 ha
    • Unnamed island0.5 ha
    • Unnamed island13 m · 0.3 ha

    Rocks & skerries

    1
    • Unnamed island<0.1 ha

    Figures

    Comparative heights

    Sea level200 m400 m600 m460 mMoala370 mMatuku340 mTotoya
    High points by island, metres above sea level.

    Islands by area

    0.00010.0010.010.1110100Moala: 65.4 km²MoalaTotoya: 30.7 km²TotoyaMatuku: 29.7 km²MatukuUnnamed island: 0.03 km²Unnamed islandUnnamed island: 0.6 haUnnamed islandUnnamed island: 0.5 haUnnamed islandUnnamed island: 0.3 haUnnamed islandUnnamed island: <0.1 haUnnamed island
    km², log scale
    Moala Island65.4 km²
    Totoya30.7 km²
    Matuku Island29.7 km²
    Unnamed island0.03 km²
    Unnamed island0.6 ha
    Unnamed island0.5 ha
    Unnamed island0.3 ha
    Unnamed island<0.1 ha

    Sources

    Facts

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

    Photographs

    • Matuku large ISS004-E-7880. Image courtesy of Earth Sciences and Image Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center / Public domain
    • Totoya large ISS004-E-5802. Image courtesy of Earth Sciences and Image Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center / Public domain