Haʻapai is a group of islands, islets , reefs , and shoals in the central part of Tonga . It has a combined land area of 109.30 square kilometres (42.20 sq mi). The Tongatapu island group lies to its south, and the Vavaʻu group lies to its north. Seventeen of the Haʻapai islands are inhabited. Their combined population is 5,419. The highest point in the Ha‘apai group, and in all of Tonga, is on Kao , which rises almost 1,050 metres (3,440 ft) above sea level.
26-598: The administrative capital village of Haʻapai District is Pangai , which is located on Lifuka . Haʻapai comprises 51 islands that lie directly west of the Tonga Trench . They constitute a chain of both volcanic and coral islands, including Kao, the highest point in the kingdom, which stands 1,046 metres (3,432 ft) high. Farther to the east are the coral islands , which are inhabited. The Haʻapai archipelago lies 204 kilometres (127 mi) north of Tongatapu and 130 kilometres (81 mi) south of Vavaʻu . Seventeen of
52-468: A combined population of 910. To the south of these islands is ʻUiha , which has two villages with a combined population of 695. ʻUiha is also the site of ancient burial grounds and an ancient monument. The large islands of Tofua (an active volcano) and Kao (a dormant volcano) are in the far west. The islands of the Kotu group, locally known as Lulunga , are in the southwest of the archipelago. The islands of
78-502: A population in excess of 200 inhabitants. The country's capital Nukuʻalofa is the only city had a population of over 20000 residents; 2 city with a population of 1 ÷ 5 thousand. and the rest of the cities of less than 1000. residents. Sources : Minerva Reefs The Minerva Reefs ( Tongan : Ongo Teleki ) are a group of two submerged atolls located in the Pacific Ocean between Fiji , Niue and Tonga . The islands are
104-452: A prize belonging to his Majesty's ship Cornwallis, was wrecked on her passage from Pisco, in Peru, to Port Jackson, in 1807”. It noted that it was “composed of hard coarse sand and coral”, a description that must have come from Garland's report. It also said that “from the distressed situation of the prize-master, Mr. Garland”, the shoal's extent could not be ascertained, and concluded: “The situation
130-475: Is 80 percent. Both North and South Minerva Reefs are used as anchorages by private yachts traveling between New Zealand and Tonga or Fiji. North Minerva (Tongan: Teleki Tokelau ) offers the more protected anchorage, with a single, easily negotiated, west-facing pass that offers access to the large, calm lagoon with extensive sandy areas. South Minerva (Tongan: Teleki Tonga ) is in shape similar to an infinity symbol , with its eastern lobe partially open to
156-410: Is further divided into districts , 23 in total. Below are several lists of the divisions, according to different sorting schemes. The Niua Islands is managed directly from Nukuʻalofa , since the population is under 1500 people. Minerva Reefs is generally considered to be a part of Tonga. It has never formed part of any administrative subdivision or district of Tonga. The districts of Tonga have
182-759: Is not to be considered as finally determined”. It cited different coordinates from those given by Garland: 30°10 South, longitude 173°45' East. The reefs were put on the charts by Captain John Nicholson of LMS Haweis in December 1818 as reported in The Sydney Gazette 30 January 1819. Captain H. M. Denham of HMS Herald surveyed the reefs in 1854 and renamed them after the Australian whaler Minerva which ran aground on South Minerva Reef on 9 September 1829. In 1972, real-estate millionaire Michael Oliver, of
208-551: The Nomuka group, locally known as ʻOtu Muʻomuʻa, are farther south. The Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha'apai volcano is located in the southwest of Haʻapai. Humpback whales migrate to the area during their “wintering” seasons. Traces of ancient settlements of the Lapita culture , dating from around 1500 BC, have been found at sites within the Haʻapai island group. The first European to visit Haʻapai
234-595: The Phoenix Foundation , sought to establish a libertarian country on the reefs. Oliver formed a syndicate, the Ocean Life Research Foundation, which had considerable finances for the project and had offices in New York City and London . In 1971, the organization constructed a steel tower on the reef. The Republic of Minerva issued a declaration of independence on 19 January 1972. Morris Davis
260-571: The Haʻapai island group was one of the sites involved in the famous Mutiny on the Bounty : Captain William Bligh visited the volcanic island of Tofua shortly after his crew set him adrift following their mutiny. In 1806, William Mariner arrived on one of the islands, aboard the Port-au-Prince . The crew of this ship was killed by Tongan warriors. Mariner survived, and lived for four years on one of
286-466: The Tongatapu Group. The atolls are on a common submarine platform from 549 to 1,097 metres (1,801 to 3,599 ft) below sea level. North Minerva is circular in shape and has a diameter of about 6.8 kilometres (4.2 mi). There is a small sand bar around the atoll, awash at high tide, and a small entrance into the flat lagoon with a somewhat deep harbor. South Minerva is parted into The East Reef and
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#1733085460740312-514: The West Reef, both circular with a diameter of about 4.8 kilometres (3.0 mi). Remnants of shipwrecks and platforms remain on the atolls, plus functioning navigation beacons. Geologically, the Minerva Reefs are of a limestone base formed from uplifted coral formations elevated by now-dormant volcanic activity. The climate is subtropical with a distinct warm period (December–April), during which
338-520: The annexation of the islands on 26 June; North Minerva was to be renamed Teleki Tokelau, with South Minerva becoming Teleki Tonga. In September 1972, South Pacific Forum recognized Tonga as the only possible owner of the Minerva Reefs, but did not explicitly recognize Tonga's claimed sovereign title. In 1982, a group of Americans led again by Morris Davis tried to occupy the reefs, but were forced off by Tongan troops after three weeks. According to Reason , Minerva has been "more or less reclaimed by
364-553: The arrival of the shipwrecked crew to Governor William Bligh in Sydney in a letter of 12 October 1807. On September 9, 1829, a whaling ship from Australia called the Minerva wrecked on the reef. On July 7, 1962, the Tuaikaepau ('Slow But Sure'), a Tongan vessel on its way to New Zealand, struck the reefs. This 15-metre (49 ft) wooden vessel was built in 1902 at the same yard as
390-552: The crew saved themselves in whaleboats or rafts and reached the Lau Islands in Fiji . The reefs were first known to Europeans by the crew of the brig Rosalia , commanded by Lieutenant John Garland, which was shipwrecked there in 1807. The Oriental Navigator for 1816 recorded Garland's discovery under the name Rosaretta Shoal, warning that it was “a dangerous shoal, on which the Rosaretta,
416-424: The following statistical info: the average size of a district is 31.7 km , while the median area is 0.0 km . the size of these districts is predominantly dependent on the land area of the islands they occupy. The districts of Tonga have the following statistical info: The average district population is 4,500, while the median is 0. According to official data from the 2011 Tonga we had over 20 cities with
442-575: The islands are inhabited, including the main islands of Lifuka and Foa. The two main villages in the archipelago are Pangai on Lifuka (where Salote Pilolevu Airport is located) and Ha'ano . A total of 6125 people live on the Ha'apai islands (Census 2016). All of the larger islands of Haʻapai are in the eastern Lifuka group. The two largest islands are Lifuka and Foa which in 2016 had recorded populations of 2,205 and 1,392 people respectively. The next largest are Nomuka and Haʻano , which have four villages, with
468-549: The islands before he was found by a passing English ship and was able to return to England. In 1840, the US Exploring Expedition visited one of the islands and met with George (Taufa'ahau) , the chief of Ha'apai. 19°45′S 174°22′W / 19.750°S 174.367°W / -19.750; -174.367 Administrative divisions of Tonga#Administrative subdivisions The island country of Tonga has five administrative divisions . Each of these
494-666: The ocean on the northern side. The reefs have been the site of several shipwrecks. The brig Rosalía was wrecked on the Minerva Reefs on 19 September 1807. After being captured by HMS Cornwallis at the Peruvian port of Ilo on 13 July, the Rosalía , 375 tons, was dispatched to Port Jackson with seven men on board under the command of Lieutenant John Garland, master of the Cornwallis . Captain John Piper, Commandant at Norfolk Island , reported
520-576: The proposal to Fiji's Minister for Foreign Affairs , Ratu Inoke Kubuabola . Some Tongans have Lauan ancestors and many Lauans have Tongan ancestors; Tonga's Lands Minister is named after Enele Ma'afu , the Tongan Prince who originally claimed parts of Lau for Tonga. Area: North Reef diameter about 6.8 kilometres (4.2 mi), South Reef diameter of about 4.8 kilometres (3.0 mi). Terrain: two atolls on dormant volcanic seamounts. Both Minerva Reefs are about 485 kilometres (301 mi) southwest of
546-620: The reef to replace the equipment, and to reassert Tonga's claim to the territory. Fijian Navy ships in the vicinity reportedly withdrew as the Tongans approached. In an effort to settle the dispute, the government of Tonga revealed a proposal in early July 2014 to give the Minerva Reefs to Fiji in exchange for the Lau Group of islands. In a statement to the Tonga Daily News , Lands Minister Lord Maʻafu Tukuiʻaulahi announced that he would make
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#1733085460740572-731: The sea". In 2005, Fiji declared that it did not recognize any maritime water claims by Tonga to the Minerva Reefs under the UNCLOS agreements . In November 2005, Fiji lodged a complaint with the International Seabed Authority concerning Tonga's maritime waters claims surrounding Minerva. Tonga lodged a counter claim. In 2010 the Fijian Navy destroyed navigation lights at the entrance to the lagoon. In late May 2011, they again destroyed navigational equipment installed by Tongans. In early June 2011, two Royal Tongan Navy ships were sent to
598-571: The subject of a territorial dispute between Fiji and Tonga, and in addition were briefly claimed by American Libertarians as the centre of a micronation , the Republic of Minerva . The reefs were named after the whaleship Minerva , wrecked on what became known as South Minerva after setting out from Sydney in 1829. Many other ships would follow, for example Strathcona , which was sailing north soon after completion in Auckland in 1914. In both cases most of
624-459: The temperatures rise above 32 °C (90 °F), and a cooler period (May–November), with temperatures rarely rising above 27 °C (81 °F). The temperature increases from 23 to 27 °C (73 to 81 °F), and the annual rainfall is from 1,700 to 2,970 mm (67 to 117 in) as one moves from Cardea in the south to the more northerly islands closer to the Equator. The mean daily humidity
650-623: Was Abel Tasman , in 1643. Captain James Cook made several stops on some of the islands in the group in 1774 and 1777. He gave them the name of the Friendly Islands in 1777. On 18 May 1777, when Cook arrived on one of the islands, accompanied by Omai , they were greeted by Fatafehi Paulaho, the Tu'i Tonga (meaning 'King of the Isles'), who was the most venerated of any chief on the islands. On 28 April 1789,
676-570: Was elected as the President of Minerva. However, the islands were also claimed by Tonga. An expedition consisting of 90 prisoners was sent to enforce the claim by building an artificial island with permanent structures above the high-tide mark. Arriving on 18 June 1972, the Flag of the Tonga was raised on the following day on North Minerva and on South Minerva on 21 June 1972. King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV announced
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