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Location : Volvanic
archipelago composed of 3 main islands :
Wallis, Futuna and Alofi located in the South Pacific.
The name of Wallis comes from Captain Samuel Wallis who discovered the island
in 1767.
Futuna and Alofi were discovered in 1616 by navigators from the Netherlands
who gave to those islands the following name : Horn Islands
Area : 274 km2
Wallis (Uvéa in Polynesian) : 96 km_
Futuna : 64 km_ and the islet Alofi : 51 km_
Population :
15 000 (Wallis : 10 000 and Futuna : 5 000), mainly Polynesians
Climate : Equatorial
Practical information
Time Zone
: GMT + 10 hours
Currency :
The Pacific Franc CPF (100 CPF Francs are worth 5,50 French Francs)
Air & Sea
Connections :
- Flight connections from Noumea (airline company : Air Calédonie International)
- "Moana III" Ship (Company Amacal) ensures the connection between
Noumea/Futuna/Wallis
- Approximately 4 freighters and tankers ensure the general supply of the
island
«
Territoire d'outre-mer » by the 1961 Law
1 Superior Administrator
of the territory who acts as a Prefect
Senator :
1 - Deputy : 1
Territorial Council
: 6 members ( 3 + the Kings of Wallis, Alo and Sigave - and 3 named by the
Superior Administrator )
Territorial Assembly
: 20 members elected for 5 years (13 for Wallis and 7 for Futuna)
Administration :
3 districts (Uvéa, Alo, Sigave) covering the 3 Kingdoms
Statistics
Agriculture accounts
for 80% of the working population, but its development is limited by the small
surface and the roughness of the island ; the culture type remains traditional.
Most of the products are consumed locally.
Fishing is also traditional.
Products are also consumed locally though the lagoon is a very rich fishing
area offering large possibilities.
Handicraft represents
one of the main economic resources.
There are numerous small objects made out of barks ; 300 people are living
out of it. This production is sold out in Noumea and Tahiti, but the handicraft
from the Fidji and Samoa islands are largely competing with the last one.
Tourism remains very
little developed.