Epi (island)

:"This article relates to the Volcanic Island Epi. An épi also has meaning in architecture as a spire shaped termination on a hipped roof. Infobox Islands
name =Epi


image caption =Map of Epi
locator

native name =
native name link =
location=Pacific Ocean
coordinates=coord|16.89|S|168.30|E
archipelago = Vanuatu
total islands =
major islands =
area =444 km²
highest mount =Mount Pomare
elevation =833 m
country =Vanuatu
country admin divisions title =Province
country admin divisions =Shefa Province
country largest city =
country largest city population =
population =3,035
population as of =1986
density =6.84 people/km²
ethnic groups =

Epi (or Épi; formerly known as Tasiko or Volcano Island) is the name of an island in Vanuatu, at the north end of the Shepherd Islands). It is in Shefa Province. It is 43 km long northwest-southeast, and 18 km wide, with an area of 444 km². Its shoreline measures 130 km. In 1986 it had a population of 3,035.

Geology and Geography

[
Dugong with attached remora, Lamen Island, Epi, Vanuatu.] The island is of volcanic origin, and its highest point, Mount Pomare, which reaches a height of 833 m above sea level, is a quaternary volcano. It lies 13 km from the more prominent Lopévi volcano. To the east is the largely underwater East Epi volcano.

On the northwest edge of the island is the sandy beach Lamen Bay, and the nearby small island of Lamen (pop. 500). The bay has some coral reefs which are the habitat of the dugong. On the west coast is Cape Forland. In the southeast is Valesdir. In the northeast is Drummond Bay, with the Nikaura Marine Protected Area, established in 2000 by the community of Nikaura. To the south is the small uninhabited islet of Namuka. There are also black (volcanic) sand beaches, and three small freshwater lakes.

Culture

Epi has a wide variety of languages for its size, including: Bieria in the south, Maii in the southwest, Baki in the west, Bierebo in the northwest, Lamenu at the northwest tip (and also the island of Lamen), and Lewo in the east. These languages are all spoken by a few to several hundred speakers each, and are considered to all form a branch of the Austronesian languages of Vanuatu.

Epi High School, at Lamen Bay, is being renovated by a joint effort from Kiwanis, Air Vanuatu, and AusAID. [http://www.news.vu/en/living/community/050201-kiwanis-ausaid-and-air-vanuatu-help.shtml]

There is a Presbyterian hospital at Vaémali (Falmali), on the north end of the island.

Economy

The principal economic activity is subsistence agriculture. The island's GDP is $457 per capita.

Formerly there were a number of large plantations for coconuts and copra, principally along the fertile coasts. Today most of these have been broken into small holdings, except for the large plantation at Valesdir, which continues to produce copra, beef, and kava. Other crops include peanuts (grown in the interior hills) and kava.

Fishing is important as well. The government has recently been promoting training in fishing to improve its efficiency and safety. [http://www.spc.int/coastfish/Sections/training/sig/sig21/sig21_p14_1.htm]

Tourism has become more important, especially in the Lamen Bay area. There is accommodation available in a few other places including Valesdir and Nikaura.

Transport

There are two airports on the island, one in the northwest at Lamen Bay, and one in the southwest at Valesdir. Both are serviced a few times a week by Air Vanuatu. The island can also be reached by ship.

The island has roads but few vehicles.

External links

* [http://coombs.anu.edu.au/SpecialProj/VAN/epi.html Languages of Epi, including bibliography]
* [http://www.vanuatu.usp.ac.fj/library/Online/Texts/Custom%20Stories%20from%20Epi/Homepage.htm Custom stories from Epi]
* [http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/usgs/index.cfm?content=archive&year=2004&week=mar_31-6_04 Geological synopsis of Epi]
* [http://islands.unep.ch/ILT.htm#1077 UN Earthwatch site]
* [http://www.andrewgray.com/pacific/dugong.htm The dugong of Lamen Bay on Epi]
* [http://www.positiveearth.org/bungalows/SHEFA/epi.htm Tourist site, including island map and pictures]
* [http://video.google.com.au/videoplay?docid=-9019154185975805492 Video of landing in Lamen Bay (LNB) on an Air Vanuatu Twin Otter]