Niua
is a
division
of the
Kingdom of Tonga
, namely the northernmost group of islands. It consists of three islands (
Niuafo?ou
,
Niuatoputapu
and
Tafahi
) which together have an area of 71.69 km
2
and a population of 1,150. The largest village is
Hihifo
on
Niuatoputapu
.
Piu'o Tafahi
is the highest point with an
elevation
of 560 m.
Geography
[
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]
The islands lie at approximately 15° south latitude and 175° to 173° west longitude, approximately 600km north of the Tongan capital of
Nuku?alofa
, 300 - 375 km northwest of
Vava?u
, and 320 - 470 km south or southwest of
Samoa
.
Niuafo?ou
is geographically separated from the other islands, lying 200km to the west. The total area of the islands is 71.69 km
2
(27.68 sq mi).
Climate
[
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]
The islands have a
tropical
climate, with a mean temperature of 27 °C (81 °F) and a mean annual rainfall of 2,453 mm (100 in) (Niuafo?ou) or 2,374 mm (90 in) (Niuatoputapu).
[2]
Geology
[
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]
The islands are the peaks of undersea
volcanoes
, towering from the sea. Niuatoputapu and Tafahi lie on the Tofua volcanic arc, and are not active. Niuafo?ou lies at the center of the
Niuafo'ou Plate
and has erupted regularly since 1814.
[3]
There are other volcanoes in this part of the Tofua chain which do not reach sea level, but form
seamounts
with between 1200 and 1500m of water above their peaks. This includes the Mata group, the
Curacoa volcano
, and the large submarine caldera
Niuatahi
.
[4]
History
[
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]
Historical population
Year
| Pop.
| ±%
|
---|
1976
| 2,328
| ?
|
---|
1986
| 2,368
| +1.7%
|
---|
1996
| 2,018
| ?14.8%
|
---|
2006
| 1,665
| ?17.5%
|
---|
2011
| 1,282
| ?23.0%
|
---|
2016
| 1,232
| ?3.9%
|
---|
2021
| 1,150
| ?6.7%
|
---|
Sources:
[5]
[6]
[1]
|
Archaeological evidence shows the Niuas were settled by the
Lapita culture
.
[7]
It was later part of the
Tui Manu'a
[8]
and
Tu?i Tonga Empires
.
The Niua group was first encountered by Europeans in 1616 by
Willem Schouten
and
Jacob Le Maire Cornelisz
during their
circumnavigation
.
[9]
Government
[
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]
The islands are part of Tonga. Their people are represented in the
legislative Assembly of Tonga
via the
Niua 17
electoral constituency, while their nobles are represented via the
Niuas Nobles' constituency
.
References
[
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]
15°57′34″S
173°46′59″W
/
15.9594°S 173.783°W
/
-15.9594; -173.783