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Country Guide > Australia and South Pacific > Vanuatu | |
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General Information Area 12,190 sq km (4707 sq miles). Population 202,200 (official estimate 2002). Population Density 15.8 per sq km. Capital Port-Vila (Island of Efaté). Population: 30,139 (1999). Geography Vanuatu, formerly called the New Hebrides, forms an incomplete double chain of islands stretching north to southeast for some 900km (560 miles). They are situated approximately 2250km (1407 miles) northeast of Sydney, Australia, and 800km (500 miles) west of Fiji. Together with the Banks and Torres islands, the chains comprise about 40 mountainous islands and 40 islets and rocks. The islands are volcanic in origin and there are five active volcanoes. The Ambrym and Lopevi volcanoes are permanently active and highly dangerous. Lopevi was extinct for many years but became active 50 years ago. Further to the south, on the island of Tanna, is Yasur, cited as the most accessible active volcano in the world and a major tourist attraction. Geophysical activity is under constant monitoring by the French scientific organisation, ORSTOM. Most of the islands are densely forested and mountainous with narrow bands of cultivated land along the coasts. Government Republic. Gained independence from the UK/France in 1980. Head of State: President Kalkot Mataskelekele since 2004. Head of Government: Prime Minister Han Lini since 2004. Language English and French are the official languages. Bislama (Pidgin English), the most widely used day-to-day language, is a Melanesian mixture of French and English. French and English are widely spoken and both English and French names exist for all towns. There are more than 115 local dialects. Religion Mostly Christian, including Presbyterian, Anglican, Roman Catholic and several other denominations. Time GMT + 11. Electricity 240 volts AC. Australian three-pin plugs are in use. Communications Telephone IDD is available. Country code: 678. There are no area codes. Outgoing international calls must go through the international operator. There are public telephones at airports and post offices. Phone cards can be purchased in local currency from the post office. For emergency services, dial: 22333 for fire services; 22222 for police; 22100 for an ambulance. Mobile telephone GSM 900. Operators include Smile (website: www.smile.com.vu). TVL also operates an analogue cellular network compliable with AMPs. Coverage is nationwide. Fax Most hotels and post offices have facilities. Internet ISPs include Vanuatu.Com (website: www.vanuatu.com.vu). There is an Internet cafe in Port-Vila. Telegram Available at the Central Post Office in Port-Vila and at main hotels. Post Post offices are located on the main streets in Port-Vila and Luganville, on Espiritu Santo. Airmail to Europe takes about seven days. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1630. Press Port Vila Presse is published daily in English and French, the Vanuatu Daily Post in English and the Vanuatu Weekly in English, French and Bislama. The monthly Pacific Island Profile is published in English and French. For tourist information, see the quarterly publication, Hapi Tumas Long Vanuatu. Radio BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online. |