Hiw Island

Hiw (sometimes spelled Hiu) is the northernmost island in Vanuatu, located in Torba Province.

Hiw
Hiu
A detailed map of Hiw, showing modern villages (red) and ancient, now uninhabited villages (pink)
Geography
LocationPacific Ocean
ArchipelagoVanuatu, Torres Islands
Area51 km2 (20 sq mi)
Highest elevation366 m (1,201 ft)
Highest pointMount Wonvara
Administration
Vanuatu
ProvinceTorba Province
Demographics
Population269 (2009)

Geography
Location of the Torres Islands in the north of Vanuatu

Hiw is the largest island in the Torres Islands in Torba Province. It is situated east of the Torres Trench, south of Vanikoro in the Solomon Islands. It has an area of 51 square kilometres (20 square miles). The highest point is Mount Wonvara (366 metres (1,201 feet).

Hiu's climate is humid tropical. The average annual rainfall is about 4000 mm. The island is subject to frequent cyclones and earthquakes.

Vewoag Point (locally called Ngrë Twome), the northern cape of Hiw, is the northernmost point of land of Vanuatu. 1.6 kilometres (1.0 mile) of Hiw is a submerged coral reef, Ngwey Gakwe (formerly Recif Giraudeau), over which the waves break.

Population

Hiw has a population of about 270 inhabitants.[1]

They are distributed in three villages, all located on the east coast: Yogwye [ˈjɔɰwjə]; Yaqane [jaˈkʷanə]; and the main village Yögevigemëne [ˌjɵɣəˌβiɣəˈmenə], whose name is sometimes shortened to Yugemëne [ˌjʉɣəˈmenə].

The language spoken on the island is also called Hiw.

Transportation

The Torres islands are served by Torres Airport, which is located on the Linua island, south of Hiw.

References
  1. "2009 National Census of Population and Housing: Summary Release" (PDF). Vanuatu National Statistics Office. 2009. Retrieved October 11, 2010. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)


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