Niuafo'ou

Niuafoou ( German Niuafoou ) or Tin Can Iceland, ancient name: Proby 's Iceland ( Edward Edwards), is one of the Kingdom of Tonga belonging volcanic island in the South Pacific, which is geographically counted for Niua group. The archipelago was discovered on May 11, 1616 by Willem Cornelisz Schouten for Europe. Niuafoou received the rarely used name " Coconut Island".

Name

The name Tin Can Iceland ( tin island) has its origin in the fact that a safe landing with boats on the rocky coast is hardly possible. From the end of the 19th century therefore post of floats passing ships was soldered in tin cans and handed over for further transport or taken over from there. This was very dangerous because of the occurring in the waters sharks and the strong surf, but remained - with interruptions - so until the opening of the airfield in 1983 From the 1920s, the undelivered letters with a special " Tin Can Mail" were given what they do. makes them sought after collector's items.

Geography

Geology

Niuafoou consists of a single shield volcano, which rises up to 250 m from the sea and is surrounded by a coral reef.

In the caldera in the center of the island the vast crater Vai Lahi is ( " Great Lake "). It has a diameter of 4.5 kilometers and takes 13.6 km ², almost a third of the total island area of 52.3 km ². A German-Polish expedition led 1968 among others an accurate survey and chemical analysis of the water through. After the sonar measurements of Vai Lahi up to 121 m deep and contains, depending on water level, about 0.98 km ³ of water, resulting in an average depth of 72 meters.

Motu Lahi, Sii Motu, Motu Molemole and visible only at low water Motu Aali: From the lake, four densely covered with tropical vegetation islands rise. Motu Molemole has its own small crater lake. In the same caldera, separated from the Vai Lahi only by a narrow land bridge, the much smaller and up to 31 m deep lake Vai Sii is having a surface area of 0.81 km ². The crater lakes have no connection to the sea, no outlet and are fed only by rainwater. The result is that the water accumulates steadily with dissolved substances from the weathered volcanic rocks. The lake water is slightly salty, but highly alkaline and therefore is not suitable for drinking water supply. In both lakes, there are hydrothermal vents ..

The volcano was frequently active in historical times. Larger eruptions are from the years 1853 ( destroyed the village of Ahau ), 1929 ( destroyed the village of Futu ), 1943 and 1946 known. After the eruption of 9 September 1946, the administration of the Kingdom of Tonga had to evacuate all residents for ' Eua. Partly this happened against the will of the person concerned. You based on previously uncultivated land to the south of the island settlements, which were given the names of their abandoned villages of origin. Only in 1958, some returned emigrants back to Niuafoou. The volcanic activity, the last of which took place in 1985 have shaped the landscape. In the west and south are extensive, partly desert lava fields that have arisen in the recent eruptions. Otherwise the island is densely covered with tropical vegetation and fertile farmland.

Emergence legend

For the formation of the crater lake after a legend of a demon inhabitants of Samoa is responsible. He stole at night the peak of Niuafoou, at this point remained the deep crater. The Shark God Seketoa the neighboring island of Niuatoputapu noticed this and sent the " Matapules ", his assistants, made ​​to track the demon. The assistants were crowing loudly as the roosters, so the demon believed it was already morning and he had lost his power. He left the mountains fall into the sea and from this formed the island Tafahi.

Flora and Fauna

The island is arid lava fields and the areas planted except in the vicinity of the villages, dense tropical forest and scrub covered, which is still largely unspoilt.

The larger trees near the coast are predominantly Casuarina equisetifolia, interspersed with coconut palms. The forests further inland are mainly composed of Glochidion ramiflorum, Elaeocarpus tonganus, the family of Sumac ( Anacardiaceae ) belonging Rhus tahitensis and various Ficus species. The pros and understory consists of Premna tahitensis, Morinda citrifolia, Scaevola taccada and Pipturus argenteus from the family of Nettle family ( Urticaceae ). The wet columns are densely covered with ferns, mainly Davalliaceae and plants of the genus Nephrolepis sp. Pilot plants on the arid lava fields are the grasses Digitaria pruriens and Eragrostis amabilis.

In the crater breeds endemic to Niuafoou Pritchardhuhn ( Megapodius pritchardii ), which is critically endangered. The German biologist Dieter Rinke has settled some breeding pairs on Fonualei, an also to the Kingdom of Tonga belonging uninhabited island. There they have now increased.

Climate

The climate is tropical humid with most abundant, but only short duration rainfall. The average annual rainfall is 2180 mm, the wettest months are January to March. Distinct seasons do not exist. The temperature is relatively constant, does not fall below 20 ° C and rarely exceeds 30 ° C. Niuafoou is in the hurricane belt of the South Pacific. 1998 moved the hurricane "Ron" on the island and caused significant damage, 74 houses were destroyed. Severe damage also caused the hurricane " Waka " on 30 December 2001.

Population

The - according to the census of 2006 - 646 inhabitants, living in eight villages in the coastal region. In the census of 1996, there were still 735 The population should now have again taken off, as the young people of the island and within the Kingdom of Tonga isolated from one moving. In the settlements on Eua, however, there was at the last census in 2257 residents who come from Niuafoou.

The islanders are mostly self-sufficient. Main foods are yams, taro, breadfruit, pork, chicken and fish, and all kinds of tropical fruits. In small scale copra is produced for export and, as needed, shipped from a warehouse in Futu from.

Infrastructure

The island is accessed by a ring road that connects together the villages, but there are only a few cars. The main means of transportation are horses. The largest village is Esia in the north, not far from the airfield. Other villages are Fataulua, Mua, and Tongamamao Petani.

The island has no harbor, only a concrete ramp and loading dock for small boats near the village of Futu on the west coast.

The small airfield "Queen Lavinia Airport" ( IATA code NTT ), with its 1065 m long runway is located in the north of the island and is currently once a week in a prop from Tongatapu / Tonga, with a stopover at Vavau, approached.

Economy

Tourism is only sparsely developed a tourist infrastructure with restaurants and hotels there are not just two or three modestly -equipped private accommodation ( guest houses ). Niuafoou has no beach, only a few, only a few square meters large accumulations of black volcanic sand.

Although belonging to the Kingdom of Tonga, has the island since 1983, own postal authority and may issue its own postage stamps, which are mainly sold to collectors worldwide.