Matthew and Hunter Islands

Matthew and Hunter Islands
For other uses, see Hunter Island (disambiguation).
Matthew and Hunter Islands
Disputed island
Other names: île Matthew and île Hunter, Fern/Fearn Island (Hunter Island)
New Caledonia and Vanuatu map-fr.svg
Vanuatu and New Caledonia, Matthew and Hunter Islands on the right bottom.
Geography
Location
Coordinates 22°22′S 171°43′E / 22.367°S 171.717°E / -22.367; 171.717Coordinates: 22°22′S 171°43′E / 22.367°S 171.717°E / -22.367; 171.717
Total islands 2
Area 1.3 square kilometres (0.50 sq mi)
Highest point unnamed peak on Hunter Island
242 metres (794 ft)
Administered by
 France
Dependency New Caledonia
Claimed by
 France
Dependency New Caledonia
 Vanuatu
Province Tafea
Demographics
Population 0

The Matthew and Hunter Islands are a group of two small and uninhabited volcanic islands in the South Pacific, located 300 km east of New Caledonia and south-east of Vanuatu archipelago. Hunter Island and Matthew Island, 70 km apart, are claimed both by Vanuatu (as part of Tafea province, and considered by the people of Anatom Island part of their custom ownership) and France (as part of New Caledonia).

Small, arid, without fresh water and not easily accessible, the islands had no interest for Britain or France during their colonization of the Pacific in the course of the 18th and 19th centuries. France officially annexed both islands in 1929. In 1965, the United Kingdom also claimed the two islands, as part of the New Hebrides. France conducted a symbolic occupation in 1975. In 1980, on its independence, Vanuatu claimed sovereignty, but made no occupation of the islands. In 1979, Météo-France set up an automatic weather station on one of the islands, and the French Navy regularly visits both of them.

Contents

Matthew Island

île Matthew in French, the island is 0.7 km² in area, and a 177 meter high stratovolcano located at 22°21′S 171°21′E / 22.35°S 171.35°E / -22.35; 171.35.

Captain Thomas Gilbert of the Royal Navy on board the Charlotte discovered Matthew Island on 27 May 1788 and named it after the owner of his ship. The island is in fact two conic islets attached by a rocky 200-metre-wide isthmus. The western part is of lava and slag, with a serrated peak 177 metres high, and the eastern part is of basalt with a 142 metre peak. There is still some volcanic activity on the island with sulphuric fumaroles rising from craters in the south-east. The conformation of the island seems to have changed over the last century, since it was described as having only one peak before the second world war. The last eruptions of the Matthew Island Volcano happened in 1956.

Hunter Island

Hunter Island (île Hunter in French) is also known as Fern or Fearn Island. It lies 70 km east of Matthew Island at 22°24′S 172°5′E / 22.4°S 172.083°E / -22.4; 172.083. About 0.6 km² in area, the island has a domed shape, and is 242 metres in height.

Captain Jimmy Joe, on board the whaler "Hunter", discovered the island (probably in 1798) and named it after his ship.

See also

  • Fiji–France Maritime Delimitation Agreement

References

  • Sharp, Andrew: The discovery of the Pacific Islands; Oxford 1960
  • Dunmore, John: Who's who in Pacific navigation; Honolulu: Univ. of Hawaii Pr., 1991 ISBN 0-8248-1350-2

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Islas Matthew y Hunter — (Îles Matthew et Hunter Matthew and Hunter Islands) Localización geográfica / administrativa Océano (mar) océano Pacífico …   Wikipedia Español

  • Matthew Flinders — For the British academic, see Matthew Flinders (academic). Matthew Flinders Born 16 March 1774 Donington, Lincolnshire, England Died 19 July 1814 …   Wikipedia

  • Matthew Turner (shipbuilder) — For other people named Matthew Turner, see Matthew Turner (disambiguation). Matthew Turner Matthew Turner in later life Born 1825 Geneva, Ohio Died …   Wikipedia

  • History of the Falkland Islands — The history of the Falkland Islands goes back at least five hundred years, with active exploration and colonisation only taking place in the 18th century. Nonetheless, the islands have been a matter of controversy, as they have been claimed by… …   Wikipedia

  • Anthropology and Archaeology — ▪ 2009 Introduction Anthropology       Among the key developments in 2008 in the field of physical anthropology was the discovery by a large interdisciplinary team of Spanish and American scientists in northern Spain of a partial mandible (lower… …   Universalium

  • Pacific Islands — The Pacific Ocean contains an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 islands (the exact number has yet to be precisely determined). Those islands lying south of the tropic of Cancer but excluding Australia are traditionally grouped into three divisions:… …   Wikipedia

  • 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami — 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake Tsunami strikes Ao Nang, Thailand. Date 00:58:53, December 26 …   Wikipedia

  • Vanuatu — Vanuatuan, adj., n. /vah nooh ah tooh/, n. a republic consisting of a group of 80 islands in the S Pacific, ab. 1000 mi. (1600 km) NE of Australia: formerly under joint British and French administration; gained independence 1980. 181,358; ab.… …   Universalium

  • FLINDERS, Matthew (1774-1814) — captain in the navy, discoverer was born at Donington, Lincolnshire, England, on 16 March 1774. His father Matthew Flinders was a surgeon and a son of a surgeon, his mother s name was originally Susannah Ward. He was educated at the free school… …   Dictionary of Australian Biography

  • New Caledonia — /kal i doh nee euh, dohn yeuh/ 1. an island in the S Pacific, ab. 800 mi. (1290 km) E of Australia. 113,680; 6224 sq. mi. (16,120 sq. km). 2. an overseas territory of France comprising this island and other smaller islands: formerly a penal… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”