Suva, Capital city in Viti Levu, Fiji
Suva occupies a peninsula on the southeastern coast of Viti Levu island, wrapping around a natural harbor ringed by dense mangrove forest. The city mixes concrete government buildings with timber houses raised on stilts, and wide streets that run from the waterfront inland.
The British colonial administration moved the capital here from Levuka in 1877 because the earlier site was too confined for further growth. Over the following decades, the city developed into the political and economic center of the islands.
The cityscape reflects the influence of the Indo-Fijian community, visible in shops selling brightly colored textiles, spice merchants, and temples. Markets fill early in the morning with vendors offering taro, cassava, and fresh fish, while families gather in the parks along the waterfront.
The main municipal market in the center opens early in the morning and closes in the evening, running every day of the week. Many streets run parallel to the waterfront, making orientation easier, and most public facilities sit within about a kilometer of each other.
The local university serves as a shared institution for twelve Pacific island nations, bringing together students from across the region. The campus sits on a hill west of the center and offers views over the harbor and mangrove forests.
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