Wallis and Futuna Islands (Iles Wallis-et-Futuna)

Wallis and Futuna Islands (Iles Wallis-et-Futuna) is a French collectivity/overseas territory in the Oceania region (South Pacific Ocean). The archipelago is located between Tuvalu (northwest/approx 920 km) Fiji (southwest/~480 km), Samoa (east/~630 km), Tonga (southeast/~830 km), Tokelau (northeast/~490 km), and ~2/3 of the way from Hawaii (~4530 km) to New Zealand (~3030 km).

Wallis and Futuna has total area 274 km2 (106 mi2), total land area approx 142 km2 (55 mi2), total coastline 129 km (80 mi) and population around 12,000. The collectivity's capital, largest city and principal seaport (the photo above) is Mata-Utu (population ~1000) on Uvea Island. The most populous is Wallis Island (8,000+), followed by Futuna (3000+). The highest elevation point (Mt Puke, on Futuna) is 524 m (1719 ft). The climate is tropical, with rainy season November-April, cool and dry season May-October, average humidity 80%, average annual temperature 27C (80F).

Wallis Island's port has locode WFMAU. Futuna Island's port has locode WFFUT. In Mata-Utu are registered all Ponant-owned cruise ships, making Wallis and Futuna their flag-state.

Wallis and Futuna's status was changed (from "overseas territory" to "overseas collectivity") in 2003. The archipelago consists of 3 main islands (plus 20 uninhabited islets) and is divided into two groups (approx 260 km / 160 mi apart) - Wallis Islands and Futuna Islands (Hoorn Islands, including Futuna Island and Alofi Island). Wallis and Futuna is divided into 3 kingdoms/chiefdoms - Uvea (on Wallis), Sigave (on Futuna) and Alo (on Futuna).

Futuna Island was discovered by the Europeans (Dutch) in the early-17th-century and initially named "Hoornse Eylanden" (after Hoorn Holland), later renamed by the French to "Isles de Horne". Wallis Islands were named after Samuel Wallis (1728-95, British explorer) who, after discovering Tahiti, in 1767 sailed past them. The first settlers were the French (in 1837), who also converted the local population to Roman Catholicism. The French protectorate was established in 1887, signed by Uvea's Queen. In 1888, French protectorates were established also on the islands Futuna and Alofi (signed by the kings of Sigave and Alo), and the three kingdoms became part of France's New Caledonia colony. The Wallis and Futuna colony was established in 1917 (after France annexed the three kingdoms) but remained under New Caledonia's authority (until 1961).

Wallis and Futuna's economy is generally based on subsistence agriculture (mainly coconuts and vegetables, also breadfruit, bananas, yams, taro), livestock (pigs), French Government subsidies, commercial fishing (also licensing of rights to Japan and South Korea), light industries like copra (coconut's dried meat), handicrafts, lumber, chemicals. Banque de Wallis-et-Futuna (1991-established) is a subsidiary of BNP Paribas SA (the world's 7th-largest by total assets). Road infrastructure is poorly developed, with ~16 km (10 mi) of paved roadways on Wallis and no paved roads on Futuna. The two main ports are on Futuna Island (Mata-Utu and Leava), both being capable of handling passenger and cargo vessels (cruise ships, oil tankers, bulk carriers, container ships). The islands are served by two airports - Hihifo (on Wallis) and Pointe Vele (on Futuna). Currently, flights are provided only by Societe Aircalin (aka Air Caledonie International).