The Maskelyne Islands, often abbreviated as the Maskelynes, are a small chain of low islands that forms part of
Vanuatu
Vanuatu ( or ; ), officially the Republic of Vanuatu (french: link=no, République de Vanuatu; bi, Ripablik blong Vanuatu), is an island country located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is east of no ...
in the
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the continen ...
. Among the islands are
Awei,
Avock
Avock Island or Avokh Island is an inhabited island in Malampa Province of Vanuatu
Vanuatu ( or ; ), officially the Republic of Vanuatu (french: link=no, République de Vanuatu; bi, Ripablik blong Vanuatu), is an island country located in ...
,
Leumanang
Leumanang is a small uninhabited island in the Malampa Province of Vanuatu. Leumanang is a part of the Maskelyne group off south Malekula.
Geography
Leumanang is located close to Malekula Island. The two neighboring islands are Arseo
Arseo Is ...
,
Uluveo
Uluveo Island (also called Maskelyne) is a small, inhabited island in Malampa Province of Vanuatu in the Pacific Ocean. It is a part of the Maskelyne Islands archipelago.
Geography
Uluveo lies just off the south coasts of Malekula Island and Sak ...
, and
Vulai.
Uluveo
Uluveo Island (also called Maskelyne) is a small, inhabited island in Malampa Province of Vanuatu in the Pacific Ocean. It is a part of the Maskelyne Islands archipelago.
Geography
Uluveo lies just off the south coasts of Malekula Island and Sak ...
(also called Maskelyne) is the main island in the group and has three villages.
The islands lie at the southeastern end of
Malakula
Malakula Island, also spelled Malekula, is the second-largest island in the nation of Vanuatu, formerly the New Hebrides, in Melanesia, a region of the Pacific Ocean.
Location
Malakula is separated from the islands of Espiritu Santo and Malo by ...
. They were named by Captain Cook after the Astronomer Royal
Nevil Maskelyne
Nevil Maskelyne (; 6 October 1732 – 9 February 1811) was the fifth British Astronomer Royal. He held the office from 1765 to 1811. He was the first person to scientifically measure the mass of the planet Earth. He created the ''British Nau ...
as he sailed north from Port Resolution on
Tanna in
HMS ''Resolution'' in late 1774.
Population
The islands of the chain are relatively well-inhabited, (1,022 by 2009). which is considered to have historical reasons in part that life on the islands provided protection from attacks by mainland tribes which were not good seafarers, and thus had trouble reaching the island chain. However, the island chain also went through a variety of cycles of population and depopulation (causes not given in reference).
Economy and services
The area is rich with fish and sharks, and
Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet is a travel guide book publisher. Founded in Australia in 1973, the company has printed over 150 million books.
History Early years
Lonely Planet was founded by married couple Maureen and Tony Wheeler. In 1972, they embarked ...
describes the Maskelynes as 'just gorgeous' and recommends them for snorkelling and diving opportunities - though warning of strong currents between the islands.
However, as of the late 2000s, there was little tourism in the area, being a very remote part of Vanuatu.
The islands have very little modern infrastructure, even for the local Pacific island environment, though the Vanuatu government and various
aid agencies
An aid agency, also known as development charity, is an organization dedicated to distributing aid. Many professional aid organisations exist, both within government, between governments as multilateral donors and as private voluntary organization ...
have cooperated with locals to assist some smaller local schools and health facilities.
References
External links
The Maskelyne Islands, South Malekula(a website describing some of the facilities for visitors)
Islands of Vanuatu
Malampa Province
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