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The islands of Wallis and Futuna (Wallis-et-Futuna; Uvea mo Futuna) are a French overseas collectivity, located in the southern Pacific Ocean west of Samoa and north-east of Fiji. The territory consists of two groups of volcanic islands (Wallis and Horne) distant from each other about 200 km. The group of the Wallis islands consists of the island of Wallis or Uvea (96 sq km) and some islets of its lagoon, while the group of the Horne islands is formed by the islands of Futuna (83 sq km), and Alofi (32 sq km).
ANOTHER FRENCH TERRITORY IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN
On the island of Wallis there is the capital of the territory, the village of Mata Utu. The interior of the island is hilly and reaches its maximum height with Mont Lulu Fakahega (151 meters). The island is surrounded by a coral reef with numerous sand islets (locally called motu).
Futuna is an island mainly mountainous, in its center rises Mount Puke, which with a height of 524 meters is the highest peak in the entire territory. The island of Alofi also of volcanic origin reaches its maximum height with Mount Kolafau (412 meters).
The economy of the islands is based on fishing and subsistence agriculture (bananas, coconuts). The main export products are copra and textile products. Remittances from immigrants who mostly work in New Caledonia constitute the most important source of foreign currency in the territory.
Both Wallis and Futuna islands have an airport: the Hihifo Airport on the island of Wallis and the Pointe Vele Airport on the island of Futuna. The islands are connected to each other by Aircalin air flights. Only the airport of the island of Wallis (Hihifo Airport) also has connections – always operated by Aircalin – with New Caledonia and Fiji.
The Wallis and Futuna government page.
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- Area: 274 sqkm.
- Population: 16,300 (2007 datas) (Polinesians).
- State Capital: Mata Utu (Wallis).
- Languages: French, Wallisian e Futunian.
- Religion: Christian: Catholic 99%.
- Currency: CFP Franc (XPF).
- Time: UTC +12 hours.
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