Tuvalu, Island nation in Polynesia, Pacific Ocean
Tuvalu is an archipelagic nation in the South Pacific between Hawaii and Australia comprising nine coral atolls spread across 26 square kilometers of ocean surface. Funafuti serves as the most populated atoll and administrative center, while the inhabited islands scatter across roughly 750,000 square kilometers of ocean.
Polynesian navigators settled the atolls roughly 3,000 years ago and developed navigation techniques for voyages between islands. British explorers reached the area in the 18th century, with the territory becoming a protectorate in 1892 and gaining independence in 1978 as a constitutional monarchy.
The nine inhabited atolls preserve distinct cultural identities with separate languages and social structures that emphasize communal decisions through councils of elders. Traditional weaving and canoe building represent skills passed between generations that continue to shape everyday life across the territory.
Visitors reach the territory through flights to Funafuti from Fiji or Kiribati, with accommodation options limited and requiring advance reservations. The period between May and October offers the most favorable conditions during the dry season when temperatures average 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), and cash remains the preferred payment method outside Funafuti.
The territory generates revenue by licensing its internet domain '.tv' to international media companies. With its highest elevation at 4.6 meters (15 feet) above sea level, the nation ranks among the most vulnerable territories worldwide to rising ocean levels.
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