Efate facts for kids
Map of Efate
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 17°40′S 168°25′E / 17.667°S 168.417°E |
| Archipelago | Vanuatu |
| Area | 899.5 km2 (347.3 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 647 m (2,123 ft) |
| Highest point | Mount McDonald |
| Administration | |
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Vanuatu
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| Province | Shefa Province |
| Largest settlement | Port Vila (pop. 51,437) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 66,000 (2010) |
| Pop. density | 55.6 /km2 (144 /sq mi) |
Efate (also called French: Éfaté) is a beautiful island in the Pacific Ocean. It's part of the Shefa Province in the country of Vanuatu. You might also hear it called Île Vate.
Contents
What is Efate Like?
Efate is the most populated island in Vanuatu. About 66,000 people live there. It's Vanuatu's third largest island, covering about 899.5 square kilometres (347.3 sq mi).
Long ago, volcanoes shaped Efate. This means much of the island is surrounded by a shelf made of hardened lava. Most people on Efate live in Port Vila, which is the capital city of Vanuatu. The highest point on the island is Mount McDonald, standing at 647 metres (2,123 ft) tall.
A Quick Look at Efate's History
In 1774, a famous explorer named Captain James Cook visited Efate. He named it Sandwich Island. He did this to honor his friend, the Earl of Sandwich.
During World War II, Efate played an important role. It was used as a military base by the United States.
On March 13, 2015, Port Vila faced a big challenge. Cyclone Pam hit the island, causing a lot of damage to the capital city.
Exploring Small Islands Near Efate
Many smaller islands are located around Efate. These include Eretoka (Hat) Island, Lelepa, Nguna, Pele, Ekapum Lep, Erueti Lep, Ekapum Rik, Iriwiti Lep, Hideaway Island, Ifira Island, and Emao.
Eretoka Island is a small island that looks like a floppy hat from far away. It's famous as the burial place of a powerful leader named Chief Roi Mata. He was buried there with his 20 wives and many other servants.
Some of the islands, like Nguna, Pele, and Emao, are stratovolcanoes. These might be parts of a large volcanic crater to their north.
Efate on TV: Survivor Island
Efate has been a filming location for the popular reality game show, Survivor. Three different seasons of the show were filmed here!
The island was used for:
- Season 9 of the American Survivor (called Survivor: Vanuatu - Islands of Fire)
- Season 2 of Australian Survivor (called Australian Celebrity Survivor: Vanuatu)
- Season 6 of the French edition (called Koh-Lanta: Vanuatu)
Many scenes for the American and Australian versions were filmed near Mangililu and Gideon's Landing. Gideon's Landing is now a popular spot for tourists to visit.
Fun Things to Do in Efate
Port Vila is the main center for tourism in Vanuatu. About 60,000 tourists visit each year by plane, cruise ship, or yacht. Because of past British and French influences, you can find both types of food in the capital. For cheaper meals, try the Chinese restaurants or the Mummas Market downtown.
Outside of Port Vila, life is more traditional. Many people live by farming their own food, which is called subsistence agriculture. They also enjoy swimming at the beach.
Air Vanuatu is the local airline that flies from Port Vila to other islands. You can easily reach popular places like Tanna and Santo daily. More remote islands can be visited less often. The island's main airport is Bauerfield International Airport.
Efate offers many exciting activities and places to see. These include the beautiful Mele Cascades waterfalls and Eton Beach. You can also visit the Tanalilui Road Markets, take a Round Island Tour, rent a Buggy Fun vehicle, go diving, or enjoy a Sunset Cruise.
Notable People from Efate
- Litiana Kalsrap - a young climate activist and leader.
See also
In Spanish: Éfaté para niños
