Rotuma Group
Encyclopedia
The Rotuma Group is a group of volcanic
island
s with Rotuma Island
being the main island, located at 12°35′S 177°10′E, approximately 465 kilometers north of Fiji
.
There are some islands located at a distance between 50 meters and 2 kilometers from the main island, but still within the fringing reef: Solnohu (south), Solkope
(southeast), 'Afgaha (far southeast), Husia (close southeast), as well as Hạuameamea and Hạua (close together northeast). Additionally, there is a separate chain of islands between three and six kilometers northwest and west of the westernmost point of Rotuma Island. From northeast to southwest, those are Uea
, Hafhai with nearby Hofhahoi, Hafhaveiaglolo, Hatana
and Hạf’liua.
The islands have an aggregate area of 44 km², of which the main island Rotuma occupies 43 km². Only the main island is permanently inhabited.
The Rotuma Group comprises a Dependency
of Fiji. The population of the dependency at the 1996 census
was 2810.
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
s with Rotuma Island
Rotuma
Rotuma is a Fijian dependency, consisting of Rotuma Island and nearby islets. The island group is home to a small but unique indigenous ethnic group which constitutes a recognizable minority within the population of Fiji, known as "Rotumans"...
being the main island, located at 12°35′S 177°10′E, approximately 465 kilometers north of Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
.
There are some islands located at a distance between 50 meters and 2 kilometers from the main island, but still within the fringing reef: Solnohu (south), Solkope
Solkope
Solkope is a small and densely wooded island off the southern coast of Rotuma in the Fiji Islands, at the edge of the fringing coral reef. It is separated from the main island of Rotuma by a channel that is between 50 and 200 meters wide, and lies immediately southeast of the village of Kalvaka in...
(southeast), 'Afgaha (far southeast), Husia (close southeast), as well as Hạuameamea and Hạua (close together northeast). Additionally, there is a separate chain of islands between three and six kilometers northwest and west of the westernmost point of Rotuma Island. From northeast to southwest, those are Uea
Uea
Uea is a high rocky offshore island of Rotuma. Uea is one of a number of outliers lying off the west coast of Rotuma. It is the second largest island and is the highest island in the Rotuma Group with an elevation of 260 m. -Flora & Fauna:...
, Hafhai with nearby Hofhahoi, Hafhaveiaglolo, Hatana
Hatana
Hatana Island is considered the most sacred or "ha'a" islet of the Rotuma Group, Fiji, commonly featuring in various Rotuman Creation myths.-Hatana in Rotuman mythology:The island’s potency is connected to the supposed “founder” of Rotuma, Raho...
and Hạf’liua.
The islands have an aggregate area of 44 km², of which the main island Rotuma occupies 43 km². Only the main island is permanently inhabited.
The Rotuma Group comprises a Dependency
Local government of Fiji
Fiji is divided administratively into four divisions, which are further subdivided into fourteen provinces; the self-governing island of Rotuma and its dependencies lie outside any of the four divisions. Each division is headed by a Commissioner, appointed by the Fijian government...
of Fiji. The population of the dependency at the 1996 census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
was 2810.