Fongafale | |
|---|---|
Island | |
 Location of Fongafale island in the Funafuti atoll | |
  Fongafale Location in Tuvalu | |
| Coordinates: 08°31′S 179°12′E / 8.517°S 179.200°E | |
| Country | Tuvalu |
| Atoll | Funafuti |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2 km2 (0.8 sq mi) |
| Population (2012) | |
| • Total | 6,006 |
| • Density | 3,000/km2 (7,800/sq mi) |
Fongafale (also spelled Fogale or Fagafale) is the largest and most populated of Funafuti's islets in Tuvalu.[1][2] It is a long narrow sliver of land, 12 kilometres long and between 10 and 400 metres wide, with the South Pacific Ocean and reef on the east and the protected lagoon on the west. The north part is the Tengako peninsula, and Funafuti International Airport runs from northeast to southwest on the widest part of the island, with the village and administrative centre of Vaiaku on the lagoon side.[3]
On Fongafale, the Funafuti Kaupule is responsible for approval of the construction of houses or extensions to existing buildings on private land, and the Lands Management Committee is the responsible authority in relation to lands leased by government.[4]
In 1972, Funafuti was in the path of Cyclone Bebe. Cyclone Bebe knocked down 90% of the houses and trees on Fongafale. The storm surge created a wall of coral rubble along the ocean side of Fongafale and Funafala that was about 10 miles (16 km) long, and about 10 feet (3.0 m) to 20 feet (6.1 m) thick at the bottom.[5][6]
- ^ "Maps of Tuvalu". Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ Admiralty Nautical Chart 2983 Tuvalu - Funafuti atoll. United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO).
- ^ Lal, Andrick. South Pacific Sea Level & Climate Monitoring Project - Funafuti atoll (PDF). SPC Applied Geoscience and Technology Division (SOPAC Division of SPC). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-02-03.
- ^ "Pacific Aviation Investment Program (PAIP) Environmental Management Plan - Funafuti International Airport(FUN) and Road Interim Working Document" (PDF). AECOM. 13 November 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
- ^ Resture, Jane (5 October 2009). Hurricane Bebe 1972. Tuvalu and the Hurricanes: ‘The Hurricane in Funafuti, Tuvalu’ by Pasefika Falani (Pacific Frank).
- ^ Warne, Kennedy (13 February 2015). "Will Pacific Island Nations Disappear as Seas Rise? Maybe Not - Reef islands can grow and change shape as sediments shift, studies show". National Geographic. Archived from the original on February 14, 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2015.