Efate

For the jumping spider genus, see Efate (spider).

Efate

Map of Efate
Geography
Location	Pacific Ocean
Coordinates
Archipelago	Vanuatu
Area
Highest elevation	647 m (2,123 ft)
Highest point	Mount McDonald
Country
Vanuatu
Province	Shefa Province
Largest settlement	Port Vila (pop. 44,040)
Demographics
Population	65,829 (as of 2009)
Density	55.6 /km2 (144 /sq mi)

Efate is an island in the Pacific Ocean which is part of the Shefa Province in The Republic of Vanuatu. It is also known as Île Vate.

It is the most populous (approx. 66,000) island in Vanuatu. Efate's land area of makes it Vanuatu's third largest island. Most inhabitants of Efate live in Port Vila, the national capital. Its highest mountain is Mount McDonald with a height of 647 metres (2,123 ft).

During World War II, Efate served an important role as a United States military base.

On March 13, 2015, Port Vila, the island's largest human settlement and the capital of Vanuatu, bore extensive damage from Cyclone Pam.

Politics

Efate became an independent commune in 1889 when residents declared the region as Franceville. However, by 1890 the commune was broken up.

Efate is governed by both the Port Vila Municipality and the Shefa Provincial Council, whose governance is the town limits of Port Vila only, and rural Efate and the outer Efate Islands, respectively.

Small Islands off Efate

Eratoka Island (3 km (2 mi) west)

North and west of Efate are small islands called Eratoka (Hat) Island, Lelepa, Nguna, Pele and Emao. Eratoka Island is a small island that, when seen from a distance looks like a floppy hat. This is where the famous Chief Roi Mata, along with his 20 wives, were buried. Nguna, Pele and Emao are stratovolcanoes, which may form the rim of a volcanic caldera to their north.

Survivor

Efate was the location for the US Survivor: Vanuatu, the Australian Celebrity Survivor and the French Koh Lanta. Much of the Survivor: Vanuatu and Celebrity Survivor was filmed approximately 30 minutes from Port Vila near Mangililu and Gideon’s Landing, the latter of which is now a commonly visited tourist attraction.

Tourism

Eratap (beach), a small outer island of Efate.

The capital of Port Vila is the hub of tourism in Vanuatu receiving approximately 60 000 tourists annually by air transport, cruise ships and the yachting community. Due to the British and French influence both cuisines are readily available in the capital. Budget dining include the scattered Chinese eateries across Vila and the Mummas Market downtown. Outside of Port Vila a more rustic destination awaits, with most people living a traditional lifestyle: cooking island food or 'aelan kakae', tending their gardens daily as subsistence agriculture is the dominant economy in Vanuatu, and swimming at the beach.

Port Vila services the domestic carrier Air Vanuatu which goes to the outer islands of Vanuatu. Popular destinations such as Tanna and Santo can be reached daily from Port Vila, while more remote locations can be reached on a less regular basis. The island is served by Bauerfield International Airport.

Efate offers a range of tourism attractions and activities including Mele Cascades, Eton Beach, Tanalilui Road Markets, Round Island Tour, Buggy Fun Rental, Diving and Sunset Cruises.

External links

• Languages of Efate - Bibliography of the island's indigenous languages
• South Efate language Wikipedia entry.