Vanua Levu

Vanua Levu is a big island in Fiji.

The land is very hilly. Some parts are wet and green. Other parts are dry for most of the year. This dry weather helps sugar cane grow well.

There are many rivers on the island. One river is very deep. Another river is known for sharks.

Many people live in the towns. Some people come to visit. They like to dive in the sea.

It is a very special place to see.

Vanua Levu is the second largest island in Fiji.

It sits north of the larger island, Viti Levu. The island is shaped like a tall, thin triangle. A long peninsula reaches out into the Koro Sea.

The land is rough and hilly. A mountain range runs across the middle. The highest peak is Mount Batini. It is 1,019 meters tall. The mountains in the south are very wet. The north is dry for eight months of the year. This dry weather is good for growing sugar cane.

Many rivers flow through the land. The Labasa, Wailevu, and Qawa rivers meet to form a delta. The town of Labasa sits on this delta. Labasa is a big center for the sugar industry.

Another town is Savusavu. It is a popular place for tourists to dive and use yachts.

People have lived here for a long time. Settlers arrived about 3,100 years ago. They lived in houses raised above the reefs.

Today, about 160,000 people live on the island.

Vanua Levu is the second largest island in the country of Fiji.

It sits just north of the much larger island called Viti Levu. The island has a shape like a tall, thin triangle. One point of this triangle reaches toward the northeast at Udu Point. A long peninsula also stretches out from the southeast into the Koro Sea. The island is surrounded by beautiful coral reefs. One of these is the Cakaulevu Reef, which is a long barrier reef.

The land here is very rough and hilly. A rugged mountain range runs across the middle of the island. This range helps form the borders between the provinces of Cakaudrove and Macuata. The highest peak is Mount Batini, which is also called Nasorolevu. It reaches a height of 1,019 meters. Another high peak is Dikeva, also known as Mount Thurston. These mountains are near the southern coasts. Because of this, the southern parts of the island are much wetter. The north is much drier for eight months of the year.

Water is very important to the island. Many rivers flow through the land, such as the Labasa, the Wailevu, and the Qawa. These three rivers meet to form a delta. The town of Labasa sits right on this delta. The Dreketi river is the deepest river in all of Fiji. However, some rivers can be dangerous. The Wainikoro river is known for shark attacks. Large ships cannot travel on any of these rivers.

People have a long history on Vanua Levu. Settlers first arrived about 3,100 years ago. They built houses high above the reefs on the shore. Later, the sea level fell and food became scarce. This caused wars, so people moved to fortified villages on mountaintops. European explorers like Abel Tasman saw the island in 1643. Later, traders looked for sandalwood in Bua Bay. In the 1860s, people from Australia and New Zealand started coconut plantations. Today, about 160,000 people live on the island.

Life on the island involves many different jobs. Sugar cane is the most important crop, especially in the north. This is why the town of Labasa is such a big center for sugar. People also grow copra, which comes from coconuts. Some people work in tourism. The town of Savusavu is a popular place for people to go diving. Visitors also enjoy using yachts there.

The island is divided into three provinces named Bua, Macuata, and Cakaudrove. These areas are part of the Northern Division of Fiji.

Vanua Levu is the second largest island in the nation of Fiji.

It is located to the north of the larger island, Viti Levu. The island has a population of approximately 160,000 people. Geologically, the island sits in a very complex tectonic area. This area lies between the Australian plate and the Pacific plate. The Fiji Platform is bordered by several active extension fault lines. These include the Fiji Fracture Zone to the north. The 176° Extension Zone lies to the west. The Hunter fracture zone and the Lau Ridge are to the east. These geological features influence the island's structure and seismic activity.

The island's physical structure is made of many different rock groups. In the center, the Suva Group forms the Korotini Tableland. This group consists of Mio-Pliocene sandstones and marl. It also includes epiclastics and andesitic volcanics. This group contains several high peaks like Seseleka and Nararo. In the northeast, the Pliocene Undu Group is found. This group contains breccia, tuff, and flows of rhyolite and dacite. These are often covered by pumiceous strata. The southwestern part of the island features the Plio-Pleistocene Mba Group. This group consists of porphyritic basalt flows and volcanoclastics. These rocks grade into greywacke and include the Mt. Kasi Mine.

Vanua Levu has a distinct and interesting shape. The main part of the island looks like a tall, thin triangle. This triangle is rotated so the point faces the northeast. This northernmost point is called Udu Point. From the southeastern side, a long peninsula stretches into the Koro Sea. The island is very rough and hilly throughout. It is surrounded by coral reefs, such as the Cakaulevu Reef. This is a long barrier reef off the northern shore. A rugged mountain range runs horizontally across the island. This range forms much of the boundary between Cakaudrove and Macuata. The highest peak is Mount Batini, also known as Nasorolevu, at 1,019 meters. Another major peak is Dikeva, or Mount Thurston, in the northeast.

The climate and water systems vary across the island. The mountain ranges sit near the windward, southern coasts. This makes those southern areas much wetter. Northern Vanua Levu has a much drier climate. It stays dry for eight months of the year. This dry weather allows sugar cane to thrive there. Several rivers flow across the land, including the Labasa and Wailevu. The Labasa, Wailevu, and Qawa rivers form a delta. The town of Labasa stands on this delta. While many rivers exist, none are navigable by large vessels. The Dreketi river is the deepest in Fiji. However, the Wainikoro river is known for dangerous shark attacks.

Human history on the island began about 3,100 years ago. Early settlers lived in houses raised above the reefs. Between 1250 and 1350, the Pacific sea level fell by 1.5 meters. This event exposed the tops of the reefs. It killed much of the abundant seafood. It also caused the groundwater table to drop below crop roots. This scarcity led to conflict and war. People moved from seaside villages to fortified mountaintop villages. These forts were used until about 1870. European contact began in 1643 with Abel Tasman. Captain William Bligh also saw the island in 1789. Later, traders exploited sandalwood in Bua Bay around 1805.

Today, the economy relies on several key industries. Sugar cane is the most important crop, especially in the north. Labasa is a major center for this industry. Copra is another important crop for the island. Tourism has also become a significant industry. The town of Savusavu is a popular center for tourists. People visit there for diving and yachting facilities.

The island is divided into three provinces. These are Bua, Macuata, and Cakaudrove. They form the Northern Division of Fiji. Vanua Levu and its outliers also form the Tovata Confederacy. This is one of three traditional alliances of Fiji's chiefs.

Modern challenges and changes continue to affect the island. In the 1930s, the price of copra collapsed during the Great Depression. This affected the prosperity of the mixed-race elite in Savusavu. In 2012, Kiribati began negotiating to buy 20,000 acres of the island. They hope to house people from territory lost to rising sea levels. Natural disasters also impact the population. In December 2020, Cyclone Yasa hit the island. It killed at least four people and caused millions in damage. About 24,000 people had to be evacuated from their homes.