List of islands of Tuvalu

Tuvalu consists of nine separate islands, six of which are atolls. Since an atoll typically consists of several islets, there is a total of more than 124 islands and islets. The three remaining islands are actually atolls, too, but they have a completely closed rim of dry land, with a lagoon that has no connection to the open sea or that may be drying up. Each island is surrounded by a coral reef.

The nine units correspond to the nine local government districts.

The smallest island, Niulakita, was uninhabited until it was resettled by people from Niutao in 1949. Until recently, Niulakita was therefore not considered a separate local government district but administratively a part of Niutao.

Atoll/Island	Main village	Land area (km²)	Total area (km²)	Pop. (c. 2002)	Min. number of islets	Number of villages	Location
Atolls
Funafuti	Vaiaku	2,40	277	4 492	30	9	8°31′S 179°13′E
Nanumea	Nanumea	3,87	22	664	5	2	05°41′S 176°09′E
Nui	Tanrake	2,83	17	548	21	4	07°13′29″S 177°09′37″E
Nukufetau	Savave	2,99	145	586	33	2	08°00′S 178°22′E
Nukulaelae	Fangaua	1,82	43	393	15	2	09°22′52″S 179°51′08″E
Vaitupu	Asau	5,60	10	1 591	9	7	07°28′S 178°41′E
Islands
Nanumanga	Tonga	3,00	3,00	589	51)	2	06°20′S 176°25′E
Niulakita	Niulakita	0,40	0,40	35	1	1	10°45′S 179°30′E
Niutao	Kulia	2,53	2,53	663	41)	2	06°06′S 177°16′E
Tuvalu	Vaiaku	25,44	520	9 561	124	34
1) main island plus islets in landlocked lagoon

At least 11 islands are inhabited, expanded over the biggest isles of the nine atolls, plus two islands in Funafuti.

Royal Society of London investigation of the formation of coral reefs at Funafuti

An expedition conducted by the Royal Society of London carried out drilling on the coral reef at Funafuti in 1896, 1897 and 1911.

The Royal Society of London were investigating the formation of coral reefs and whether traces of shallow water organisms could be found at depth in the coral of Pacific atolls. This investigation followed the work on the structure and distribution of coral reefs conducted by Charles Darwin in the Pacific. Professor Edgeworth David of the University of Sydney lead the expeditions in 1896 and 1897.

See also

• ISO 3166-2:TV

External links

• (English) Atoll areas (including lagoons)