Mota Lava
Encyclopedia
Mota Lava or Motalava is the fourth largest island in the Banks Islands
of Vanuatu
, after Gaua
, Vanua Lava
and Ureparapara
, with an area of 24 km² (9.3 sq mi). It is the largest and highest (411 m (1,348 ft)) of the eastern chain of islands. 270 metres (886 ft) off its southern coast, attached by high corals that one can wade through at low tide, is the islet of Ra, with an area of 0.5 km² (0.193051079296268 sq mi).
The 2009 census figures
give a population of 1640 inhabitants (Mota Lava + Ra), yielding a population density of 67 per km².
There is an airport on the island (IATA code: MTV).
The habit of designating the island as Mota Lava was then borrowed by 19th-century missionaries from the neighbouring language Mota
. The inhabitants of Mota Lava call their own island Mwotlap (ŋmʷɔtˈlap).
Mwotlap
also designates the language spoken by the inhabitants of Mota Lava. It is the most widely spoken of the languages in the Banks Islands
, with about 2,100 speakers.
An earlier attempt to transcribe the native name, both for the island and the language, yielded a form Motlav.
ic stratovolcano
es. Two of the cones, Vetman and Tuntog, are well-preserved. Vetman is a pyroclastic cone in the centre of the island with a breached summit crater. At the southwest end of the island, Tuntog is a composite cone with a 500 metres (1,640 ft) wide crater.
Geochemical
analysis shows that the island's lava has a similar composition to that from nearby Mota
and Ureparapara
, as well as lava from the south of the country, but differs from material erupted in central Vanuatu. The latter region has been affected by the subduction of a submerged, extinct island arc complex called the D'Entrecasteaux Zone.
Banks Islands
The Banks Islands are a group of islands in northern Vanuatu.Together with the Torres Islands to the northwest, they make up the northernmost province of Torba. The group lies about north of Maewo, and includes Gaua and Vanua Lava, two of the 13 largest islands in Vanuatu...
of Vanuatu
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...
, after Gaua
Gaua
Gaua is the largest of the Banks Islands in Torba Province of northern Vanuatu. It covers 342 km².- Physical geography :...
, Vanua Lava
Vanua Lava
Vanua Lava is the second largest of the Banks Islands in Torba Province, Vanuatu, after slightly larger Gaua. It is located about 120 km north-northeast of Espiritu Santo and north of Gaua. It has a land area of 314 km². Its population numbered 2,623 in 2009.The island measures about...
and Ureparapara
Ureparapara
Ureparapara is the third largest island in the Banks Group in northern Vanuatu, after Gaua and Vanua Lava. It is an old volcanic cone that has been breached by the sea on its east coast, forming Divers Bay. Apart from this indentation, the island is circular in shape, with a diameter of eight...
, with an area of 24 km² (9.3 sq mi). It is the largest and highest (411 m (1,348 ft)) of the eastern chain of islands. 270 metres (886 ft) off its southern coast, attached by high corals that one can wade through at low tide, is the islet of Ra, with an area of 0.5 km² (0.193051079296268 sq mi).
The 2009 census figures
2009 Vanuatu Census
The 2009 Vanuatu Census refers to the census conducted in Vanuatu on 16 November, 2009. The census revealed growth by an average of 2.3 percent since the last population survey in 1999....
give a population of 1640 inhabitants (Mota Lava + Ra), yielding a population density of 67 per km².
There is an airport on the island (IATA code: MTV).
Name and language
In early texts and maps of the 19th century, the island of Mota Lava was designated as Saddle Island, due to the island's distinctive profile seen from a boat.The habit of designating the island as Mota Lava was then borrowed by 19th-century missionaries from the neighbouring language Mota
Mota (island)
Mota is an extinct volcanic island in the Banks group of Torba Province in northern Vanuatu.683 people live on Mota in coastal villages around the island. The names of the villages are Liwotqei, Lotawan, Mariu, Tasmate, Garamal, Tuqetap, and Veverao....
. The inhabitants of Mota Lava call their own island Mwotlap (ŋmʷɔtˈlap).
Mwotlap
Mwotlap
-External links: *...
also designates the language spoken by the inhabitants of Mota Lava. It is the most widely spoken of the languages in the Banks Islands
Banks Islands
The Banks Islands are a group of islands in northern Vanuatu.Together with the Torres Islands to the northwest, they make up the northernmost province of Torba. The group lies about north of Maewo, and includes Gaua and Vanua Lava, two of the 13 largest islands in Vanuatu...
, with about 2,100 speakers.
An earlier attempt to transcribe the native name, both for the island and the language, yielded a form Motlav.
Geology
Mota Lava is composed of at least five basaltBasalt
Basalt is a common extrusive volcanic rock. It is usually grey to black and fine-grained due to rapid cooling of lava at the surface of a planet. It may be porphyritic containing larger crystals in a fine matrix, or vesicular, or frothy scoria. Unweathered basalt is black or grey...
ic stratovolcano
Stratovolcano
A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a tall, conical volcano built up by many layers of hardened lava, tephra, pumice, and volcanic ash. Unlike shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes are characterized by a steep profile and periodic, explosive eruptions...
es. Two of the cones, Vetman and Tuntog, are well-preserved. Vetman is a pyroclastic cone in the centre of the island with a breached summit crater. At the southwest end of the island, Tuntog is a composite cone with a 500 metres (1,640 ft) wide crater.
Geochemical
Geochemistry
The field of geochemistry involves study of the chemical composition of the Earth and other planets, chemical processes and reactions that govern the composition of rocks, water, and soils, and the cycles of matter and energy that transport the Earth's chemical components in time and space, and...
analysis shows that the island's lava has a similar composition to that from nearby Mota
Mota (island)
Mota is an extinct volcanic island in the Banks group of Torba Province in northern Vanuatu.683 people live on Mota in coastal villages around the island. The names of the villages are Liwotqei, Lotawan, Mariu, Tasmate, Garamal, Tuqetap, and Veverao....
and Ureparapara
Ureparapara
Ureparapara is the third largest island in the Banks Group in northern Vanuatu, after Gaua and Vanua Lava. It is an old volcanic cone that has been breached by the sea on its east coast, forming Divers Bay. Apart from this indentation, the island is circular in shape, with a diameter of eight...
, as well as lava from the south of the country, but differs from material erupted in central Vanuatu. The latter region has been affected by the subduction of a submerged, extinct island arc complex called the D'Entrecasteaux Zone.
External links
- Tourism site with map
- Site of the linguist Alexandre François, including an introduction to the culture of Mota Lava and its language (MwotlapMwotlap-External links: *...
), as well as photos, maps, songs, a myth, and a traditional story