islandsWallis

Wallis Island, also known as Uvéa, is the largest island of the French overseas collectivity of Wallis and Futuna in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies northeast of Fiji and west of the kingdom of Tonga, and is surrounded by a coral reef and a shallow lagoon. The island is volcanic in origin and features a central ridge with several peaks; it is relatively fertile and densely settled around coastal settlements.

Administration and people: Wallis and Futuna is a French overseas collectivity. The island has a population practicing Polynesian culture; Wallisian (Uvean) is widely spoken, with French as an official language and religious life dominated by Roman Catholicism. Mata-Utu is the capital and administrative center.

History and culture: The island was settled by Polynesian navigators before European contact. Under French administration, Wallis and Futuna became a French overseas collectivity, retaining customary leadership alongside the French political system. Cultural life centers on family, church, and traditional chieftainship.

Economy and environment: Economy relies on subsistence farming, fishing, and aid from France; goods and services are imported. The landscape includes coconut palms, tropical forests, and a ring of reef; climate is tropical with a wet season and vulnerability to cyclones.