Vaitupu
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Vaitupu, largest island of the Pacific nation of Tuvalu, is located at 7.48 degrees south and 178.83 degrees west.
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Demographics and history
Vaitupu is home to the second-largest population in Tuvalu, numbering about 1,200 residents. 600 students from ages 13 and 21 are sent here from throughout the archipelago to attend the country's only secondary school, Motufoua. Despite its relatively large size, the island became so overcrowded during the 1940s that several families migrated to Fiji.
Vaitupu received worldwide attention in 2000, when a fire in a dormitory at the Motufoua school killed 18 girls and an adult supervisor. It was later discovered that the fire was caused by a student using a candle to read during the night. The late Prime Minister Ionatana Ionatana declared a national tragedy and quickly traveled to the island to witness the aftermath.
Geography
All
The island, which covers approximately 5.6 square kilometers, includes swamps, mangroves, a fringing coral reef and a large lagoon.
Islands
Vaitupu consists of at least 9 islands, which are:
- Luasamotu
- Mosana (group of 2)
- Motutanifa
- Temotu
- Te Motu Olepa
- Tofia
- Vaitupu proper
- And at least 1 other isle
- There is at least 1 isle inhabited, which is Vaitupu proper.
- The biggest island is of course Vaitupu proper, which is followed by Tofia.
Inhabited
The only village on Vaitupu consists of the neighbourhoods Tumaseu and Asau. There is a church, a primary school, at least one guesthouse and a post office. The secondary school (Motufoua) lies on plusminus 2 kilometres, and the hospital on about 1 km.
How to get here, transportation and tourism
Today, Vaitupu can be accessed by either private boat or the government-operated MV Nivaga II at irregular intervals from Funafuti. There are paths. In the village is a guesthouse.