Wallis and Futuna, French overseas territory in South Pacific Ocean, France
Wallis and Futuna is a French overseas territory in the South Pacific, made up of two island groups separated by around 140 miles (230 km) of open ocean. The larger island of Wallis sits within a protective reef, while Futuna and the smaller uninhabited island of Alofi rise steeply from the sea with volcanic terrain.
European sailors reached these islands during the early 1600s, though the communities remained largely independent until Catholic missionaries arrived in the 1830s. Local chiefs requested French protection in the 1880s and the islands became a formal overseas territory in the 1960s.
Locals rely on fishing and gathering seafood from the lagoon as part of daily life, with canoes remaining a common sight along the shore. Catholic ceremonies and village feasts bring communities together, blending Christian practice with Polynesian customs throughout the year.
The main settlement of Mata-Utu on Wallis provides basic services including shops, a post office, and a small hospital. A modest airport connects the islands with New Caledonia and Fiji, while Futuna is reachable from Wallis by regular ferry.
Only around fifteen cars are registered on Futuna, so most residents walk or use bicycles to get around the island. The island of Alofi was once inhabited but repeated raids in the 1800s led to its permanent abandonment.
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