From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tafea is the southernmost province of Vanuatu. The name is an acronym for the five main islands that make up the province:

¹⁾ including Goat Island (5.6 km northeast, 0.1 km² area) and Vete Manung Island (15 km northeast)
²⁾ including Inyeug Island (0.6 km southwest, airport of Anatom), but without the remote Matthew and Hunter Islands, which are considered by the people of Anatom Island part of their custom ownership

Map of Vanuatu, with Tafea in the lower right

Geography

The province has a population of 27,530 people and an area of 1,628 km². The main island, though second to Erromango in area, is Tanna, with some 80 percent of the province population, with the provincial capital of Isangel, and the largest village of Lenakel, both close together on the southwest coast.

The three larger islands are Melanesian, but the smaller two, Aniwa and Futuna, also known under the collective term Erronan Islands, are Polynesian outliers. Futuna is sometimes called West Futuna to distinguish it from Futuna Island, Wallis and Futuna.

The island of Tanna has the world's most accessible volcano, Mount Tukosmera, with 1,084 meters the highest peak of the province. Aniwa Island is the only coral island, the other four are volcanic and reach much higher elevations than Aniwa.

Anatom is the southernmost island of Vanuatu (not counting the remote, tiny and uninhabited Matthew and Hunter Islands, 280 to 335 km to the southeast, which are disputed with New Caledonia, but which are considered by the people of Anatom Island part of their custom ownership). Its southeastern cape Nétchan Néganneaing is the southernmost point of land in Vanuatu, more southerly than the southern satellite islet Inyeug. The latter, however, is surrounded Intao Reef, that extends even further south, albeit submerged, thus being the southernmost feature of Vanuatu.

History

Flag of Tanna, 1980

Unlike the other provinces of Vanuatu, the territorial integrity of this administrative unit has been unchanged since the times of the Condominium, when it was called Southern District, or Tanna after the main island. Only the capital moved from Lenakel to nearby Isangel, less than two kilometers more southeast.

A secessionist movement began in the 1970s, and the Nation of Tanna was proclaimed on March 24, 1974. While the British were more open to allowing its holdings in Vanuatu independence, it was opposed by the French colonists and finally suppressed by the Anglo-French Condominium authorities on June 29, 1974. In 1980, there was another attempt to secede, declaring the Tafea Nation on January 1, 1980, its name coming from the initials of the five islands that were to be part of the nation (Tanna, Aniwa, Futuna, Erromango and Aneityum). British forces intervened on May 26, 1980 allowing the island to become part of the newly independent nation of Vanuatu on July 30, 1980.

Islands of Vanuatu by province Malampa Penama Sanma Shefa Tafea Torba Malakula Ambrym Paama Pentecost Ambae Maewo Espiritu Santo Malo Epi Éfaté Shepherd Islands Tanna Aniwa Futuna Erromango Anatom Torres Islands Banks Islands

Coordinates: 19°30′S 169°30′E / 19.5°S 169.5°E / -19.5; 169.5

From Wikitravel

Mt. Yasur on Tanna island

• Ipota

• Mt. Yasur on Tanna island. Mount Yasur is an active volcano, 361 m (1,184 ft) above sea level. The glow of the volcano was apparently what attracted Captain James Cook to the island in 1774. The volcano can be climbed up to the rim and provides some stunning photo opportunities. Because of the variability of the eruptions, the local government has created safety levels: Level 0 - Low activity, access to the crater allowed; Level 1 - Normal activity, access to the crater allowed; Level 2 - Moderate to high activity, lava bombs may land beyond the crater rim, access to the crater is closed; Level 3 - Severe activity, access to the summit zone is closed; Level 4 - Major eruption, all access closed.

Beware that a few people have been killed by lava bombs in the past. A Tour Guide must be used. The entry fee is 2250 Vatu.

Do

See Mantanna Marae Resort. It's completely custom and maintains the culture of the Ni-Vanuatu people.

• Mantanna's Restuarant. Five-star dining with international selection. Best place to eat on the Island!

• John Frum Kava Bar, local drink. The root of Kava is chewed, usually prepared in the Nakomal by virgin boys.