Port Vila, Vanuatu

Port Vila is the largest city and the capital of the Republic of Vanuatu, located in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean. Port Vila is situated on Mele Beach on the southwest coast of the island of Efate. The island of Efate is located in the central part of the Vanuatu archipelago. The island covers an area of 899.5 sq. km. The highest point of Efate, Mount Macdonald, reaches a height of 646 m. The island’s shoreline is rocky. In some places, Efate is bordered by a fringing reef.

The island of Efate was settled approximately 2,500 years ago by people from the Solomon Islands. In 1774, Efate was discovered by the English explorer James Cook. In the early 19th century, the island became one of the centers of trade in sandalwood timber. On June 30, 1980, the New Hebrides (Vanuatu) gained independence from the United Kingdom and France, and Efate became part of the territory of the Republic of Vanuatu.

The Melanesian state of Vanuatu is a chain of islands of a Y-shaped form, stretching from north to south over 1,176 km. The nearest country, the Solomon Islands, lies approximately 170 km north of Vanuatu, New Caledonia is 230 km to the southwest, Fiji is 800 km to the east, and Australia is 1,750 km to the west. The total land area is 12,190 sq. km. The population of Vanuatu is 234,023 (2009). The capital is Port Vila.

From a geological standpoint, the islands of Vanuatu are young, and their formation took place through four main stages of volcanic activity. Structurally, the islands consist mainly of erupted volcanic rock. The modern name of the country, Vanuatu, means “this land forever.” It has been officially used since July 30, 1980, when the islands gained independence from the United Kingdom and France. Before that, the archipelago was called the “New Hebrides.” It was given in 1774 by the English seafarer James Cook in honor of the Hebrides Islands, located to the west of Scotland.

Port Vila is a charming town marked by several cultures and traditionally considered the country’s most colorful city, where business districts of quite European appearance and green villages of the outskirts coexist comfortably. The city is known for attractions such as the Cultural Centre with excellent art, archaeological, and ethnographic collections, the Constitution Building, the Independence Park with an Anglican church, the Parliament, the old courthouse, the Post Office, the fish and covered market. The French Quarter lies north of the city center and boasts buildings in a colonial style. The Chinese Quarter, or as locals call it-Hong Kong Street-is well known for its small restaurants and cafés.

Vanuatu is characterized by a humid tropical climate close to the equatorial. Rainfall varies from 2,500 to 4,000 mm. From May to October (winter months), south-easterly breezes blow over the New Hebrides. As a result, there are sunny days and cool nights. From November to April, the air is very humid due to very frequent and heavy downpours. During this time of year, high temperatures and frequent cyclones are observed.

The average annual temperature ranges from +29 °C to +17 °C. The strong rainy season on all Vanuatu islands lasts from January to March. The rainiest month of the year is February (20 rainy days). The driest months are August and September. The average annual rainfall is 2,360 mm.