NAVIGATION
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NAVIGATION
Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands
Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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Although discovered by the Dutch and the British in the 17th and 18th centuries, it was the French who declared a protectorate over the islands in 1842. In 1959, the inhabitants of the islands voted to become a French overseas territory. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand |
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Geographic coordinates:
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13 18 S, 176 12 W |
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Map references:
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Oceania |
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Area:
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total: 274 sq km
note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets water: 0 sq km land: 274 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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1.5 times the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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129 km |
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October); rains 2,500-3,000 mm per year (80% humidity); average temperature 26.6 degrees C |
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Terrain:
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volcanic origin; low hills |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Singavi 765 m |
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Natural resources:
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NEGL |
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Land use:
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arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 20% other: 75% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km |
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Natural hazards:
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NA |
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation (only small portions of the original forests remain) largely as a result of the continued use of wood as the main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests, the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion; there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of natural fresh water resources |
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Geography - note:
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both island groups have fringing reefs |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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15,734 (July 2003 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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NA (2003 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Death rate:
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NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia (2003 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: NA%
male: NA% female: NA% |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: NA years
male: NA years female: NA years (2003 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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NA children born/woman (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA% |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders
adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander |
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Ethnic groups:
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Polynesian |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 99%, other 1% |
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Languages:
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French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 50% male: 50% female: 50% (1969 est.) |