Anatom
Encyclopedia
Anatom is the southernmost island of Vanuatu
. It is in the province of Tafea. The largest village is Anelghowhat (correctly, Anelcauhat), on the south side. The island is 159.2 km² in size. It rises to an elevation of 852 meters in Mount Inrerow Atamein.
There is an airport, not on the main island itself, but on the tiny island to its south, Inyeug (correctly, Iñec), across the main village, which has twice-weekly flights from Port Vila
and Tanna.
Anatom is the southernmost island of Vanuatu (not counting Matthew and Hunter Islands
, which are disputed with New Caledonia
, but 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 by Intao Reef, that extends even further south, albeit submerged, thus being the southernmost feature of Vanuatu.
Anatom has a current estimated population of 1250 (Officially? 550). It is believed to have had a population of possibly as larger than 12,000 prior to the arrival of the Europeans in 1793. Introduced diseases and blackbirding
are believed to have been the major factors in the depopulation. [down to less than 200 in 1930]. The island is surrounded by coral reefs and beaches. The main language of Anatom is called Aneityum
or Anejom̃. It is considered to constitute its own branch of the South Vanuatu languages
.
Vanuatu
Vanuatu , officially the Republic of Vanuatu , is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.Vanuatu was...
. It is in the province of Tafea. The largest village is Anelghowhat (correctly, Anelcauhat), on the south side. The island is 159.2 km² in size. It rises to an elevation of 852 meters in Mount Inrerow Atamein.
There is an airport, not on the main island itself, but on the tiny island to its south, Inyeug (correctly, Iñec), across the main village, which has twice-weekly flights from Port Vila
Port Vila
Port Vila is the capital and largest city of Vanuatu. Situated on the south coast of the island of Efate, in Shefa Province, the city population at last was 29,356, an increase of 55% on the previous census result . This suggests a 2007 population of about 40,000 or around 65% of the province's...
and Tanna.
Anatom is the southernmost island of Vanuatu (not counting Matthew and Hunter Islands
Matthew and Hunter Islands
The Matthew and Hunter Islands are a group of two small and uninhabited volcanic islands in the South Pacific, located 300 km east of New Caledonia and south-east of Vanuatu archipelago...
, which are disputed with New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
, but 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 by Intao Reef, that extends even further south, albeit submerged, thus being the southernmost feature of Vanuatu.
Anatom has a current estimated population of 1250 (Officially? 550). It is believed to have had a population of possibly as larger than 12,000 prior to the arrival of the Europeans in 1793. Introduced diseases and blackbirding
Blackbirding
Blackbirding is a term that refers to recruitment of people through trickery and kidnappings to work as labourers. From the 1860s blackbirding ships were engaged in seeking workers to mine the guano deposits on the Chincha Islands in Peru...
are believed to have been the major factors in the depopulation. [down to less than 200 in 1930]. The island is surrounded by coral reefs and beaches. The main language of Anatom is called Aneityum
Aneityum language
Anejom̃ or Aneityum is an Oceanic language spoken by 600 people on Aneityum Island, Vanuatu.-External links:*...
or Anejom̃. It is considered to constitute its own branch of the South Vanuatu languages
South Vanuatu languages
-Languages:*Erromanga: Sie, Sorung , Ifo , Ura *Anejom–Tanna**Aneityum**Tanna:***Kwamera...
.