VANUATU
(Island Republic of Vanuatu)

Capital: Port Vila

Flag: red and green sections are divided by the gold strip passing in black border and extending at the elevator in a black triangle on which there is a tusk of a pig covering two the crossed yellow leaves of chalk across.

Anthem: Yumi, Yumi, Yumi (We, We, We).

MONETARY AND CREDIT BLOCK: As of January 1, 1981 vatu (vt) I replaced new Czech franc as national currency at par value. There are coins of 100 vatu and the banknote of 100, 500, 1000 and 5000 vatu. vt1 = $0.00895 (or $1 = vt111.79) as of 2004.

WEIGHT AND MEASURES: the metric standard is used.

HOLIDAYS: New year, on January 1; May Day, on May 1; Independence Day, on July 30; Assumption, on August 15; Constitution day, on October 5; Day of national unity, on November 29; Christmas, on December 25; Day of family, on December 26. Moveable religious feasts include Good Friday, Easter Monday and Rise.

TIME: 11th evenings = midday of GMT.

ARRANGEMENT, SIZE AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Vanuatu, earlier Anglo-French condominium from new Hebrides, represents an irregular Y-shaped chain from about 80 islands with a total area about 12 200 sq.km (4 710 quarter. Miles) and the general coastline in 2,528 km (1,571 miles)). Rather, the space occupied by Vanuatu is a little more, than the State of Connecticut. From 70 inhabited islands the largest is Espirito Santo; the island of Efate is the administrative center. The island chain about 800 km long (500 miles) also makes about 1000 km (600 miles) from Fiji and 400 km (250 miles) from New Caledonia. Vanuatu and France claim that the islands of Metyyu and Hanter are between Vanuatu and New Caledonia; one of islands was occupied by the French troops.
The capital of Vanuatu, Port Vila, is located on the island of Efate.

TOPOGRAPHY

Islands of coral and volcanic origin; active volcanoes, including Ambergris, Lopevi and Tanna act on several islands. The majority of islands are forest and mountain, with narrow shores. The highest peak of Tabvemasan, to Espirito Santo, rises by 1887 m above sea level. Islands usually well pour down. Being created in geologically active area, islands experience casual earthquakes. Though it is, as a rule, insignificant, the earthquake measuring 6,8 points at the height of 90 km (140 km) to the north from Luganvil, by Espirito Santo was registered on February 5, 2005.

CLIMATE

The tropical oceanic climate is softened with southeast trade winds which fall between months of May and October. Wind is changed during the rest of year, and there can be cyclones. Average daytime temperatures in Port Vila vary from 25 °C (77 °F) in the winter up to 29 °C (84 °F) in the summer. The humidity averages about 74%, and the amount of precipitation to Efate makes about 230 cm (90 inches) a year.