Nukufetau | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Nukufetau atoll from space | |
 Map of the atoll | |
  Nukufetau Location in Tuvalu | |
| Coordinates:08°00′S178°22′E / 8.000°S 178.367°E /-8.000; 178.367 | |
| Country | Tuvalu |
| Population (2017) | |
• Total | 597 |
| ISO 3166 code | TV-NKF |
Nukufetau is anatoll that is part of thenation ofTuvalu.[1][2] The atoll was claimed by theUS under theGuano Islands Act some time in the 19th century and was ceded in a treaty of friendship concluded in 1979 and coming into force in 1983. It has a population of 597 who live onSavave islet (2017 Census).[3]
Nukufetau is anatoll with passages through thereef that allow large ships to enter and anchor in the lagoon. Nukufetau consists of at least 33 islets:
The biggest island isMotulalo. In the late 19th century, after the coming of the missionaries, the people of Nukufetau lived onFale islet before shifting toSavave which is on the lagoon side of the Fale settlement.[4]: 86–87
On Savave islet 331 people live in Aulotu and 191 live in Maneapa (2012 census).[3]
The traditional history of Nukufetau is that a party ofTongans were the first people to settle. When they landed they found only onefetau (orfetaʻu inTongan) tree growing on the atoll, so they called the place Nukufetau – the island of thefetau. They planted coconut trees and settled onFale on the western side of the atoll.[4]: 86
Arent Schuyler de Peyster, of New York, captain of the armedbrigantine orprivateerRebecca, sailing under British colours,[5][6] passed through the southern Tuvalu waters in May 1819 sighting Nukufetau.[7]
In 1820 the Russian explorerMikhail Lazarev visited Nukufetau as commander of theMirny.[7][8]
TheUnited States Exploring Expedition underCharles Wilkes visited Nukufetau in 1841.[9]
Louis Becke, who later became a writer, operated a store on Nukufetau from February 1881 to August 1881.[10][11][12] Becke later wrote a story about a fishing expedition:The Fisher Folk Of Nukufetau.[13]
The population of Nukufetau from 1860 to 1900 is estimated to be 250 people.[14][15]
Alfred Restieaux was a trader on Nukufetau in the late 19th century from 1873 to 1879 and met his wife Litia.[16][17] He returned sometime in the 1880s; in 1892 CaptainEdward Davis, ofHMS Royalist, recordedAlfred Restieaux and Emile Fenisot as trading on Nukufetau.[18] Restieaux died on Nukufetau in 1911.
Nukufetau Post Office opened around 1925.[19]
During World War IICoastwatchers, who observed and reported on Japanese shipping, had a station on Nukufetau.[20] In 1943United States NavySeabees build a deepwater wharf and an airfield onMotulalo, which is the largest islet of Nukufetau.[21] Two intersecting runways ofNukufetau Airfield formed an "X" shape.
B-24s were based at the airfield. The Marine Attack Squadron 331 (VMA-331) also flewDouglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers from Nukufetau.[22] After the war the airfield was dismantled and the land returned to its owners, however as the coral base was compacted to make the runway the land now provides poor ground for growing coconuts.[21]
There is a shipwreck at the southeast corner of the atoll, but only thebow and parts of thestern remain.[23]
Nukufetau was affected by storm surges caused byCyclone Pam in early March 2015, which damaged houses, crops and infrastructure. As of 22 March, 76 people (13 percent of the population) were displaced and were living in 2 evacuation centres.[24] The Situation Report published on 30 March reported that on Nukufetau all the displaced people have returned to their homes. Nukufetau suffered the loss of 90% of crops.[25]
In 2016 a 500-metre seawall was constructed to improve the defences against severe wet weather events. The $8 million cost of the project was paid by theUnited Nations Development Programme and was carried out by dredging and civil contracting company Hall Pacific.[26][27]
In addition to imported food, food is produced on Fale and on Funaota. The products includepulaka (a root crop), pigs,breadfruit, browncoconuts and germinating nuts.[28]
Enele Sopoaga andPanapasi Nelesoni were re-elected in the2024 Tuvaluan general election.[29][30]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Panapasi Nelesoni | 408 | 27.05 | |
| Nonpartisan | Enele Sopoaga | 402 | 26.65 | |
| Nonpartisan | Taimitasi Paelati | 374 | 24.80 | |
| Nonpartisan | Nikolasi Apenelu | 324 | 21.48 | |
In 1951 the school that was located onMotumua islet was transferred to Savave and became the government primary school for Nukufetau.[4]: 91 It was named the Tutasi Memorial School in honour of its predecessor.
| Islands |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Atolls | ||
| Islets of Funafuti | ||
| Islets of Nanumea | ||
| Islets of Nui | ||
| Islets of Nukufetau | ||
| Islets of Vaitupu | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
