Funafuti facts for kids
Funafuti is the capital of Tuvalu, a small island nation. It is the most populated atoll in Tuvalu, with about 4,492 people living there in 2002. Funafuti is a very narrow strip of land, only 20 to 400 meters wide.
On Funafuti, you can find an airstrip, a hotel called Vaiaku Langi Hotel, and buildings where the government works. Homes are built in two ways: some use traditional palm leaves, and others use modern cement blocks. A very important building is the Church of Tuvalu. You can also see parts of American aircraft that crashed here during World War II. The airstrip was used by American forces to protect nearby islands. The United States used to claim Funafuti, but they gave up their claim in the late 1970s or early 1980s.
The biggest island within Funafuti is Fongafale. On Fongafale, there are four villages. One of these villages is Vaiaku, which is where the government offices are located. Sometimes people think Fongafale or Vaiaku is the capital, but actually, the entire atoll of Funafuti is considered the capital of Tuvalu.
Islands of Funafuti Atoll
Funafuti Atoll is made up of at least 33 different islands. The largest island is Fongafale, and the second largest is Funafala. At least three of these islands have people living on them: Fongafale, Funafala, and Motuloa.
Here are some of the islands in Funafuti:
- Amatuku
- Avalau
- Falaoigo
- Fale Fatu
- Fatato
- Fongafale
- Fuafatu
- Fuagea
- Fualefeke
- Fualopa
- Funafala
- Funamanu
- Luamotu
- Mateika
- Motugie
- Motuloa
- Mulitefala
- Nukvalevale
- Papa Elise
- Pukasavilivili
- Te Afuafou
- Te Afualiku
- Tefala
- Telele
- Tengako (part of Fongafale island)
- Tengasu
- Tepuka
- Tepuka Vili Vili
- Tutanga
- Vasafua
TeNamo Lagoon
The atoll of Funafuti surrounds a large body of water called TeNamo. This lagoon is very long, stretching over 20 kilometers.
Location of Funafuti
Funafuti is located at 8°31′ South and 179°13′ East.
Images for kids
-
The Tuvalu Meteorological Service station in Fongafale.
-
Offices of the Tuvalu Telecommunications Corporation.
-
The Vaiaku Lagi Hotel.
-
An aerial view of the Tengako peninsula and Fongafale, looking south.
-
The Tengako peninsula, looking south.
-
A woman on Funafuti; photo by Harry Clifford Fassett (1900).
-
The ocean side of Funafuti atoll, showing the storm dunes, which are the highest points on the atoll.
-
Water storage tanks installed at Fetuvalu High School.
See also
In Spanish: Funafuti para niños
