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Archipelago

    Vanuatu

    16°38′S 168°01′E

    Vanuatu

    Part of Melanesia

    Vanuatu, officially the Republic of Vanuatu (French: République de Vanuatu; Bislama: Ripablik blong Vanuatu), is an archipelagic country in the Melanesia region of Oceania located in the South Pacific Ocean.

    breakas beach resort vanuatu
    breakas beach resort vanuatu

    Simon_sees from Australia / CC BY 2.0

    Chart

    285 landforms

    Overview

    Vanuatu, officially the Republic of Vanuatu (French: République de Vanuatu; Bislama: Ripablik blong Vanuatu), is an archipelagic country in the Melanesia region of Oceania located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is 1,750 km (1,090 mi) east of northern Australia, 540 km (340 mi) northeast of New Caledonia, east of New Guinea, southeast of Solomon Islands, and west of Fiji. Vanuatu was first inhabited by Melanesian people. The first Europeans to visit the islands were a Spanish expedition led by Portuguese navigator Fernandes de Queirós, who arrived on the largest island, Espíritu Santo, in 1606. Queirós claimed the archipelago for Spain, as part of the colonial Spanish East Indies and named it La Austrialia del Espíritu Santo. In the 1880s, France and the United Kingdom claimed parts of the archipelago, and in 1906, they agreed on a framework for jointly managing the archipelago as the New Hebrides – through an Anglo-French condominium. In the 1970s, an independence movement arose, and the Republic of Vanuatu was founded in 1980. Since its independence, the country has become a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, and the Pacific Islands Forum.

    From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Census, cataloged

    • Major islands8
    • Minor islands120
    • Islets102
    • Rocks & skerries55

    Major islands

    8
    • Espiritu Santo

      Espiritu Santo

      Area
      3,940 km²
      High point
      1,879 m

      2 sq mi), although Efate, on which the capital city of Port Vila is located, has a larger population. As of 2020, the population of Santo was 37,328. Luganville is the only true town on the island.

    • Malakula Island

      Malakula Island

      Area
      2,041 km²
      High point
      877 m

      Malekula, also spelled Malakula, is the second-largest island in the nation of Vanuatu, an archipelago of Melanesia in the South Pacific.

    • Efate

      Efate

      Area
      894 km²
      High point
      647 m

      Efate (French: Éfaté), originally named Sandwich Island and also known as Île Vate (French: [il vat]) or just Vate, is an island in the Pacific Ocean. It is part of the Shefa Province in Vanuatu, and the capital city, Port Vila, is located on the island.

    • Erromango

      Erromango

      Area
      890 km²
      High point
      850 m

      Erromango is the fourth largest island in the Vanuatu archipelago. With a land area of 891.9 square kilometres (344.4 sq mi), it is the largest island in Tafea Province, the southernmost of Vanuatu's six administrative regions.

    • Ambrym

      Ambrym

      Area
      672 km²
      High point
      1,270 m

      Ambrym is a volcanic island in Malampa Province in the archipelago of Vanuatu. It is located near the center of the archipelago of Vanuatu, and also hosts one of the most active volcanoes in the world, which includes lava lakes in two craters near the summit. It is currently the least populous island in the country.

    • Tanna

      Tanna

      Area
      563 km²
      High point
      1,084 m

      Tanna (sometimes misspelled Tana) is an island in southern Vanuatu. Tanna is the most populous island of Tafea Province, and the third most populous in the country (after Efate and Espiritu Santo).

    • Pentecost

      Pentecost

      Area
      490 km²
      High point
      947 m

      Pentecost is one of the 83 islands that make up the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu.

    • Epi

      Area
      443 km²
      High point
      833 m

      Epi (or Épi, Api; formerly known as Tasiko or Volcano Island) is an island in Shefa Province, Vanuatu, at the north end of the Shepherd Islands.

    Minor islands

    120

    • Aoba Island

      Area
      403 km²
      High point
      1,496 m

    • Vanua Lava

      Area
      332 km²
      High point
      958 m

    • Gaua

      Area
      308 km²
      High point
      797 m

    • Maewo

      Area
      302 km²
      High point
      811 m

    • Malo

      Area
      182 km²
      High point
      328 m

    • Aneityum

      Area
      160 km²
      High point
      804 m

    • Aore

      Area
      58.1 km²
      High point
      140 m

    • Hiw

      Area
      47.3 km²
      High point
      335 m

    • Tongoa

      Area
      40.1 km²
      High point
      494 m

    • Ureparapara

      Area
      39 km²
      High point
      684 m

    • Emae

      Area
      33 km²
      High point
      644 m

    • Mota Lava

      Area
      32.2 km²
      High point
      428 m

    • Tegua

      Area
      32.1 km²
      High point
      239 m

    • Paama

      Area
      31.6 km²
      High point
      538 m

    • Tegua

      Area
      30.7 km²
      High point
      139 m

    • Lopevi

      Area
      28.5 km²
      High point
      1,430 m

    • Nguna

      Area
      27.4 km²
      High point
      599 m

    • Moso

      Area
      24.9 km²
      High point
      117 m

    • Nguna

      Area
      24.5 km²
      High point
      160 m

    • Toga

      Area
      19.1 km²
      High point
      250 m

    • Merelava

      Area
      17.6 km²
      High point
      1,009 m

    • Tutuba Island

      Area
      12.9 km²
      High point
      68 m

    • Sakao Island

      Area
      11.5 km²
      High point
      130 m

    • Futuna

      Area
      10.6 km²
      High point
      664 m

    • Lo

      Area
      10.1 km²
      High point
      138 m

    • Mota

      Area
      10.1 km²
      High point
      411 m

    • Aniwa

      Area
      8.5 km²
      High point
      55 m

    • Emao

      Area
      7.6 km²
      High point
      411 m

    • Lelepa

      Area
      7.5 km²
      High point
      202 m

    • Haiite Island

      Area
      7.5 km²
      High point
      38 m

    • Tongariki

      Area
      5.4 km²
      High point
      523 m

    • Mavéa

      Area
      4.6 km²
      High point
      71 m

    • Sakao Island

      Area
      4.1 km²
      High point
      91 m

    • Pele

      Area
      4.1 km²
      High point
      196 m

    • Lataro

      Area
      3.2 km²
      High point
      88 m

    • Metoma

      Area
      3.1 km²
      High point
      129 m

    • Le-tharo

      Area
      3 km²
      High point
      105 m

    • Thion

      Area
      2.8 km²
      High point
      213 m

    • Tomman

      Area
      2.6 km²
      High point
      80 m

    • Araki

      Area
      2.5 km²
      High point
      255 m

    • Linua

      Area
      2.4 km²
      High point
      30 m

    • Makura

      Area
      1.8 km²
      High point
      296 m

    • Mataso

      Area
      1.7 km²
      High point
      407 m

    • Lathu

      Area
      1.6 km²
      High point
      187 m

    • Île Koivou

      Area
      1.6 km²
      High point
      44 m

    • Rano Island

      Area
      1.5 km²
      High point
      28 m

    • Uri

      Area
      1.4 km²
      High point
      27 m

    • Le-theroa

      Area
      1.4 km²
      High point
      78 m

    • Buninga

      Area
      1.3 km²
      High point
      221 m

    • Vao Island

      Area
      1.2 km²
      High point
      42 m

    • Qaké

      Area
      1.2 km²
      High point
      23 m

    • Ewose

      Area
      1.1 km²
      High point
      318 m

    • Urpiv

      Area
      0.98 km²
      High point
      29 m

    • Lamen

      Area
      0.96 km²
      High point
      51 m

    • Vulaï

      Area
      0.91 km²
      High point
      73 m

    • Eretoka

      Area
      0.88 km²
      High point
      95 m

    • Malokilikili

      Area
      0.87 km²
      High point
      17 m

    • Wala Island

      Area
      0.77 km²
      High point
      38 m

    • Atchin Island

      Area
      0.73 km²
      High point
      38 m

    • Ratua Island

      Area
      0.68 km²
      High point
      20 m

    • Urelapa

      Area
      0.67 km²
      High point
      25 m

    • Bokissa Island

      Area
      0.66 km²
      High point
      28 m

    • Tangoa

      Area
      0.62 km²
      High point
      43 m

    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.56 km²
      High point
      17 m

    • Ra

      Area
      0.55 km²
      High point
      49 m

    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.48 km²
      High point
      79 m

    • Ifira

      Area
      0.47 km²
      High point
      25 m

    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.45 km²
      High point
      9 m

    • Merig

      Area
      0.45 km²
      High point
      119 m

    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.44 km²
      High point
      172 m

    • Raven̄a

      Area
      0.42 km²
      High point
      23 m

    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.42 km²
      High point
      79 m

    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.39 km²
      High point
      27 m

    • Nawila

      Area
      0.37 km²
      High point
      20 m

    • Kakula

      Area
      0.37 km²
      High point
      20 m

    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.36 km²
      High point
      10 m

    • Île Faroun

      Area
      0.35 km²
      High point
      12 m

    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.31 km²
      High point
      12 m

    • Laika

      Area
      0.31 km²
      High point
      95 m

    • Oyster Island

      Area
      0.31 km²
      High point
      28 m

    • Anouit

      Area
      0.28 km²
      High point
      21 m

    • Asuleka

      Area
      0.28 km²
      High point
      22 m

    • Falea

      Area
      0.27 km²
      High point
      103 m

    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.22 km²
      High point
      10 m

    • Norsup

      Area
      0.22 km²
      High point
      21 m

    • Malotina

      Area
      0.19 km²
      High point
      18 m

    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.18 km²
      High point
      12 m

    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.18 km²
      High point
      24 m

    • Iririki

      Area
      0.18 km²
      High point
      47 m

    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.17 km²
      High point
      12 m

    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.16 km²
      High point
      8 m

    • Inyeug

      Area
      0.16 km²
      High point
      12 m

    • Iriwiti Lep

      Area
      0.15 km²
      High point
      15 m

    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.14 km²
      High point
      18 m

    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.13 km²
      High point
      17 m

    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.13 km²
      High point
      14 m

    • Vot Tande

      Area
      0.12 km²
      High point
      43 m

    • Malvanua

      Area
      0.11 km²
      High point
      28 m

    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.11 km²
      High point
      44 m

    • Unnamed island

      Area
      0.11 km²
      High point
      70 m

    • Ngwel

      Area
      0.1 km²
      High point
      8 m

    • Avock

      Area
      —

      size unknown

    • Awei

      Area
      —
      High point
      1 m

      size unknown

    • Ekapum Lep

      Area
      —

      size unknown

    • Elephant Island

      Area
      —

      size unknown

    • Erueti Lep

      Area
      —

      size unknown

    • Fatumiala

      Area
      —

      size unknown

    • Kwakéa

      Area
      —
      High point
      13 m

      size unknown

    • Lataroa

      Area
      —

      size unknown

    • Leneu

      Area
      —

      size unknown

    • Malparavu

      Area
      —
      High point
      15 m

      size unknown

    • Maltinerava

      Area
      —
      High point
      38 m

      size unknown

    • Namuka

      Area
      —

      size unknown

    • Ravenga

      Area
      —

      size unknown

    • Rowa

      Area
      —
      High point
      6 m

      size unknown

    • Sowan

      Area
      —
      High point
      177 m

      size unknown

    • Tefala

      Area
      —

      size unknown

    • Uluveo

      Area
      —

      size unknown

    • Uripiv

      Area
      —

      size unknown

    • Vete Manung

      Area
      —

      size unknown

    Rocks & skerries

    55

    On the chart above, at its closest zooms.

    Listing 128 of 285; the rest are on the chart.

    Figures

    Comparative heights

    Sea level500 m1,000 m1,500 m2,000 m1,879 mEspiritu Santo1,496 mAoba1,430 mLopevi1,270 mAmbrym1,084 mTanna1,009 mMerelava958 mVanua Lava947 mPentecost877 mMalakula850 mErromango833 mEpi811 mMaewo804 mAneityum797 mGaua
    High points by island, metres above sea level.

    Islands by area

    0.11101001,00010,000Espiritu Santo: 3,940 km²Espiritu SantoMalakula: 2,041 km²MalakulaEfate: 894 km²EfateErromango: 890 km²ErromangoAmbrym: 672 km²AmbrymTanna: 563 km²TannaPentecost: 490 km²PentecostEpi: 443 km²EpiAoba: 403 km²AobaVanua Lava: 332 km²Vanua LavaGaua: 308 km²GauaMaewo: 302 km²MaewoMalo: 182 km²MaloAneityum: 160 km²AneityumAore: 58.1 km²AoreHiw: 47.3 km²HiwTongoa: 40.1 km²TongoaUreparapara: 39 km²UreparaparaEmae: 33 km²EmaeMota Lava: 32.2 km²Mota LavaTegua: 32.1 km²TeguaPaama: 31.6 km²PaamaTegua: 30.7 km²TeguaLopevi: 28.5 km²LopeviNguna: 27.4 km²NgunaMoso: 24.9 km²MosoNguna: 24.5 km²NgunaToga: 19.1 km²TogaMerelava: 17.6 km²MerelavaTutuba: 12.9 km²TutubaSakao: 11.5 km²SakaoFutuna: 10.6 km²FutunaLo: 10.1 km²LoMota: 10.1 km²MotaAniwa: 8.5 km²AniwaEmao: 7.6 km²EmaoLelepa: 7.5 km²LelepaHaiite: 7.5 km²HaiiteTongariki: 5.4 km²TongarikiMavéa: 4.6 km²Mavéa
    km², log scale. 19 without a known area.
    Espiritu Santo3,940 km²
    Malakula Island2,041 km²
    Efate894 km²
    Erromango890 km²
    Ambrym672 km²
    Tanna563 km²
    Pentecost490 km²
    Epi443 km²
    Aoba Island403 km²
    Vanua Lava332 km²
    Gaua308 km²
    Maewo302 km²
    Malo182 km²
    Aneityum160 km²
    Aore58.1 km²
    Hiw47.3 km²
    Tongoa40.1 km²
    Ureparapara39 km²
    Emae33 km²
    Mota Lava32.2 km²
    Tegua32.1 km²
    Paama31.6 km²
    Tegua30.7 km²
    Lopevi28.5 km²
    Nguna27.4 km²
    Moso24.9 km²
    Nguna24.5 km²
    Toga19.1 km²
    Merelava17.6 km²
    Tutuba Island12.9 km²
    Sakao Island11.5 km²
    Futuna10.6 km²
    Lo10.1 km²
    Mota10.1 km²
    Aniwa8.5 km²
    Emao7.6 km²
    Lelepa7.5 km²
    Haiite Island7.5 km²
    Tongariki5.4 km²
    Mavéa4.6 km²
    Sakao Island4.1 km²
    Pele4.1 km²
    Lataro3.2 km²
    Metoma3.1 km²
    Le-tharo3 km²
    Thion2.8 km²
    Tomman2.6 km²
    Araki2.5 km²
    Linua2.4 km²
    Makura1.8 km²
    Mataso1.7 km²
    Lathu1.6 km²
    Île Koivou1.6 km²
    Rano Island1.5 km²
    Uri1.4 km²
    Le-theroa1.4 km²
    Buninga1.3 km²
    Vao Island1.2 km²
    Qaké1.2 km²
    Ewose1.1 km²
    Urpiv0.98 km²
    Lamen0.96 km²
    Vulaï0.91 km²
    Eretoka0.88 km²
    Malokilikili0.87 km²
    Wala Island0.77 km²
    Atchin Island0.73 km²
    Ratua Island0.68 km²
    Urelapa0.67 km²
    Bokissa Island0.66 km²
    Tangoa0.62 km²
    Unnamed island0.56 km²
    Ra0.55 km²
    Unnamed island0.48 km²
    Ifira0.47 km²
    Unnamed island0.45 km²
    Merig0.45 km²
    Unnamed island0.44 km²
    Raven̄a0.42 km²
    Unnamed island0.42 km²
    Unnamed island0.39 km²
    Nawila0.37 km²
    Kakula0.37 km²
    Unnamed island0.36 km²
    Île Faroun0.35 km²
    Unnamed island0.31 km²
    Laika0.31 km²
    Oyster Island0.31 km²
    Anouit0.28 km²
    Asuleka0.28 km²
    Falea0.27 km²
    Unnamed island0.22 km²
    Norsup0.22 km²
    Malotina0.19 km²
    Unnamed island0.18 km²
    Unnamed island0.18 km²
    Iririki0.18 km²
    Unnamed island0.17 km²
    Unnamed island0.16 km²
    Inyeug0.16 km²
    Iriwiti Lep0.15 km²
    Unnamed island0.14 km²
    Unnamed island0.13 km²
    Unnamed island0.13 km²
    Vot Tande0.12 km²
    Malvanua0.11 km²
    Unnamed island0.11 km²
    Unnamed island0.11 km²
    Ngwel0.1 km²

    Groups within

    2

    Overlapping groups

    Sources

    Facts

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

    Photographs