Épi
Map of Epi
|
|
 |
|
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 16°53′S 168°18′E / 16.89°S 168.30°ECoordinates: 16°53′S 168°18′E / 16.89°S 168.30°E |
| Archipelago | Vanuatu |
| Area | 444 km2 (171 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 833 m (2,733 ft) |
| Highest point | Mount Pomare |
| Administration | |
|
Vanuatu
|
|
| Province | Shefa Province |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 5,207 (2009) |
| Pop. density | 6.84 /km2 (17.72 /sq mi) |
Epi (or Épi, Api; formerly known as Tasiko or Volcano Island) is an island in Shefa Province, Vanuatu, at the north end of the Shepherd Islands.
The island is 43 kilometres (27 mi) long northwest-southeast, and 18 kilometres (11 mi) wide, with an area of 444 square kilometres (171 sq mi). Its shoreline measures 130 km. In 1986 it had a population of 3,035 but in 2009 it had increased to 5,200.
The island is of volcanic origin, and its highest point, Mount Pomare, which reaches a height of 833 m above sea level, is a quaternary volcano. It lies 13 km from the more prominent Lopévi volcano. To the east is the largely underwater East Epi volcano.
On the northwest edge of the island is the sandy beach Lamen Bay, and the nearby small island of Lamen (pop. 500). The bay has some coral reefs which are the habitat of the dugong. On the west coast is Cape Forland. In the southeast is Valesdir. In the northeast is Drummond Bay, with the Nikaura Marine Protected Area, established in 2000 by the community of Nikaura. To the south is the small uninhabited islet of Namuka. There are also black (volcanic) sand beaches, and three small freshwater lakes.
Epi has a wide variety of languages for its size, including: Bieria in the south, Maii in the southwest, Baki in the west, Bierebo in the northwest, Lamenu at the northwest tip (and also the island of Lamen), and Lewo in the east. These languages are all spoken by a few to several hundred speakers each, and form a branch of the Austronesian languages of Vanuatu.
Epi High School, at Lamen Bay, is being renovated by a joint effort from Kiwanis, Air Vanuatu, and AusAID. [1]
...
Wikipedia