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Espiritu Santo

Coordinates:15°25′S166°54′E/ 15.417°S 166.900°E/-15.417; 166.900
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, seeEspiritu Santo (disambiguation).
Not to be confused withEspírito Santo.
Espiritu Santo
Nickname: Santo
Map of Espiritu Santo
Geography
LocationSanma Province,Vanuatu
Coordinates15°25′S166°54′E/ 15.417°S 166.900°E/-15.417; 166.900
ArchipelagoNew Hebrides
Area3,955.5 km2(1,527.2 sq mi)
Highest elevation1,879 m (6165 ft)
Highest pointMount Tabwemasana
Administration
ProvinceSanma
Largest settlementLuganville(pop. 10,738)
Demographics
Population39,606 (2009)
Ethnic groupsNi-Vanuatu

Espiritu Santo[a](UK:/ɛˌspɪrɪtuːˈsæntoʊ/,[1]US:/-ˈsɑːntuː,-ˈsɑːntoʊ/;[2][3][4]French:[ɛspiʁitysɑ̃to]) is the largest island in the nation ofVanuatu,with an area of 3,955.5 km2(1,527.2 sq mi) and a population of around 40,000 according to the 2009 census.[5]

Geography[edit]

The island belongs to thearchipelagoof theNew Hebridesin the Pacific region ofMelanesia.It is in theSanma Provinceof Vanuatu. The town ofLuganville,on Espiritu Santo's southeast coast, is Vanuatu's second-largest settlement and the provincial capital. Roads run north and west from Luganville, but most of the island is far from the limited road network. Around Espiritu Santo lie a number of small islands and islets; among them are:Dany Island,Araki,Elephant Island,Sakao,Lataroa,Lataro,Thion,Malohu,Malwepe,Malvapevu,Malparavu,Maltinerava,Oyster Island,Tangoa,andBokissa.

Vanuatu's highest peak is the 1,879 metre (6,165 foot)Mount Tabwemasanain west-central Espiritu Santo.

History[edit]

Champagne Beach,North Santo
Local children

ASpanishexpedition of three ships, led byPortugueseexplorerPedro Fernandes de Queirós,landed in 1606 at Big Bay on the north side of the island. Queirós named the landLa Austrialia [sic][6]del Espíritu Santoin acknowledgment of the Spanish king's descent from the royalHouse of Austria,and believing he had arrived in the Great Southern Continent,Terra Australis.They entered the bay on the 1st and 2 May: the latter being the day of Saints Philip and James, Queirós named itBahía de San Felipe y Santiago.[7]

The local chief tried to chase the Spanish explorers back to their ships, which led to an exchange of arrows and musket-fire, in which the chief was killed.[8]The ships remained for a month at their anchorage "Puerto de la Vera Cruz",with armed sailors making incursions inland for provisions.[9]Queirós announced his intention to found a city, Nova Jerusalem, and appointed municipal officers. In early June, with provisions running low, they left the bay to explore the neighbouring coastline. Queirós' lead ship became separated, and, whether through adverse weather or mutiny, was unable to make anchor in the bay.

Thealmirante(second-in-command, and captain of the second ship),Luis Váez de Torres,searched the coast for signs of shipwreck but found none.[10][11]He remained until late June, then sailed to the west coast with the intention of circumnavigating what he considered to be an island, not a continent. The wind and current were against this aim, so he left the island sailing west, eventually encountering the previously unexplored southern coast ofNew Guinea.[12]Torres then discovered thestrait that bears his namebetween northern Australia and southern New Guinea.

After the departure of Queirós and Torres, the Espiritu Santo was not visited again by Europeans until 160 years later, byLouis de Bougainvillein 1768 andJames Cookin 1774.[13]

During the time of the British–FrenchCondominium,Hog Harbour,on the northeast coast, was the site of the British district administration, while Segond, near Luganville, was the French district administration.[14]

ID check at the entrance to the base duringWorld War II

World War II[edit]

Main article:Espiritu Santo Naval Base

DuringWorld War II,particularly after theJapanese attack on Pearl Harbor,the island was used by American naval and air forces as a large military supply and support base, naval harbor, and airfield.Luganville Airfield,also called Bomber Field #3, was a large airfield built by theSeabeesof the40th Naval Construction Battalionin 1943. Also built on the island was Bomber Field No.2 which becameSanto-Pekoa International Airportafter the war.Palikulo Bay Airfield,also called Bomber Field #1, became part of the main road after the war.Luganville Seaplane Baseserved theseaplaneandTurtle Bay Airfieldalso called Fighter Field #1 served the fighter planes.

TheSSPresident Coolidgewas a converted luxury liner that hit asea mineduring the war and was sunk. The shipwreck off Espiritu Santo later became a popular diving spot.[citation needed] The presence of the Americans contributed later to the island's tourism inscuba diving,as the Americans dumped most of their used military and naval equipment, and their refuse, at what is now known as "Million Dollar Point".[15]

In highly fictionalized form, this was the locale ofJames Michener'sTales of the South Pacific,and of the followingRodgers and Hammersteinmusical,South Pacific.

Post–World War II[edit]

Between May and August 1980 the island was the site of arebellionduring the transfer of power over the colonialNew Hebridesfrom the condominium to the independent Vanuatu.Jimmy Stevens'Nagriamelmovement, in alliance with private French interests and backed by the Phoenix Foundation and American libertarians hoping to establish a tax-free haven, declared the island of Espiritu Santo to be independent of the new government. The "Republic of Vemerana"was proclaimed on May 28. France recognized the independence on June 3. On June 5, the tribal chiefs of Santo named the French Ambassador Philippe Allonneau the" King of Vemerana ", and Jimmy Stevens became the Prime Minister. Luganville was renamed Allonneaupolis.[citation needed]Next, negotiations with Port-Vila failed, and from July 27 to August 18, BritishRoyal Marinesand a unit of the FrenchGarde Mobilewere deployed to Vanuatu's capital island, but they did not enter Espiritu Santo as the soon-to-be government had hoped. The troops were recalled shortly before independence. Following independence on 31 July 1980, Vanuatu, now governed by the Vanuaku Party with FatherWalter Linias Prime Minister, requested assistance fromPapua New Guinea,whose army suppressed the rebellion, keeping Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu.

Culture[edit]

Best Point, South Santo

Over 30 different locallanguages are spoken on Espiritu Santo,a subgroup of theNorth Vanuatu languages.

Espiritu Santo, with many wrecks and reefs to be explored, is a very popular tourist destination for divers.Champagne Beachdraws tourists with its white sand and clear waters. The "Western Side" of the island contains many caves which can be explored, and cruise ships often stop in atLuganville.

The local people make their living by supporting the tourist trade, by cash-crop farming, mostlycopra,but also somecocoa beansandkava,as well aspeanuts,or by subsistence farming and fishing.[citation needed]

Most of the people are Christians. The largest church groups on the island are thePresbyterian Church of Vanuatu,theRoman Catholic Church,and theChurch of Melanesia(Anglican). Also active are theApostolic Church,theChurch of Christ,theSeventh-day Adventist Church,and others. However, in many villages, particularly in Big Bay and South Santo, the people are "heathen",a term that in Vanuatu has no pejorative connotation — it simply denotes someone who has not embraced Christianity.Customarybeliefs of a more modern sort are found among followers of theNagriamelmovement based inFanafo.

For almost all of Espiritu Santo's people, custom plays a large part in their lives, regardless of their religion. The chief system continues strongly in most areas.[citation needed]

The people of Santo face some health problems, especiallymalariaandtuberculosis.Although there is a hospital, most local people consult either their ownwitch doctoror medical clinics set up by western missionaries.Kavais the popular drug of the island, although alcohol is becoming more prevalent. With the rising number of adults using alcohol, there is a rising crime rate, especially involving violence toward women, and tribal warfare.[citation needed]

Sports[edit]

In September 1998, Espiritu Santo hosted theMelanesia Cupsoccer tournament.

Economy and infrastructure[edit]

Luganvilleis the only true town on the island; the rest of the island is dotted with small villages. FromLuganville,three "main roads" emerge. Main Street leaves the town to the west and winds along the south coast of the island for about 40 km ending at the village of Tasiriki on the southwest coast. Canal Road runs along the southern and eastern coasts of the island, north through Hog Harbor and Golden Beach, ending atPort Olry.Big Bay Highway splits off from Canal Road near Turtle Bay on the east coast, runs generally west to the mountains, and then it leads north to Big Bay. Theinternational airportis about five km east of the center ofLuganville.Numerous rivers run to the coastline from the mountains of the island. TheSarakata Riveris the largest one, and it runs throughLuganville.

Many people on Espiritu Santo still rely on subsistence farming for their food. The villages on the island are mostly self-sufficient with their own vegetable gardens, chickens, and pigs. Taros and yams are commonly grown in these gardens, and these are mainstays of the local diet.

Espiritu Santo is home to a number of cattle farms (including the famous Belmol Cattle Project, originally established by French settlers), and the island exports much of its beef to Japan, Australia, and other Pacific countries.

Besides beef, tinned fish, and rice bought in town, Espiritu Santo has many foods that locals take for granted, and that tourists enjoy as delicacies. Among these are sweet pineapples, mangoes, island cabbage, flying foxes, andcoconut crab,as well as local nuts such as natapoa and the sweet fleshy-fruit callednaosin Bislama, or great hog plum in English (a type ofSpondias dulcis). There is a market in Luganville where local food such as yams, sweet potatoes, manioc, taro, cabbage, and other freshly grown island staples are sold. Some local handicrafts are also sold there. Several small supermarkets such as LCM, Unity Shell, and Au bon Marche sell groceries and many packaged goods.

Biodiversity[edit]

The island of Espiritu Santo is home to all of Vanuatu'sendemic birds,including theSanto mountain starling,a species restricted entirely to Espiritu Santo. Two protected areas have been established to safeguard the island's biodiversity; the Loru Conservation Area on the east coast and the Vatthe Conservation area near Big Bay in the north.

The Loru Rainforest Protected Area is situated in the lowland rainforests of Espiritu Santo. Established in 1993 by Chief Caleb Ser, the 220 hectares (540 acres) reserve supports a rich variety of Vanuatu's bird, bat, and plant life, as well as a diverse range of marine species in the two-kilometre stretch of fringing reef.[16]

The treeMetrosideros tabwemasanaensisis endemic to high mountain forests on Mount Tabwemasana.[17]

See also[edit]

Explanatory notes[edit]

  1. ^From theSpanishEspíritu Santo[esˈpiɾituˈsanto],"Holy Spirit",usually called justSanto.

References[edit]

  1. ^"Espiritu Santo".Collins English Dictionary.HarperCollins.Retrieved13 August2019.
  2. ^"Espíritu Santo".The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language(5th ed.). HarperCollins.Retrieved13 August2019.
  3. ^"Espiritu Santo".LexicoUS English Dictionary.Oxford University Press.Archived fromthe originalon 2022-09-02.
  4. ^"Espiritu Santo".Merriam-Webster Dictionary.Retrieved13 August2019.
  5. ^2009 Census Summary release finalArchivedDecember 21, 2013, at theWayback Machine- Government of Vanuatu
  6. ^Estensen, M. (2006)Terra Australia Incognita; The Spanish Quest for the Great South Land.Allen & Unwin, AustraliaISBN978-1-74175-054-6
  7. ^Burney, James (1803).A chronological history of the discoveries in the South Sea or Pacific Ocean; illustrated with charts.pp.299-300.
  8. ^Burney (1803), pp. 300–301. Burney is critical of the Spaniards' approach to diplomacy, though he notes the incident probably "saved the people of the country from the dominion of European masters".
  9. ^Burney (1803) pp.302–304.
  10. ^Burney (1803),p. 305
  11. ^Diego del Prado: "Luis Baes de Torres went in the boat, well equipped, along the coast of the bay to the north and the launch along the other coast, hugging the land because if the vessel had made shipwreck they would find plenty of pieces of planks along the coast" (manuscript,English translation).
  12. ^Burney (1803) p.311.
  13. ^Burney (1803),p. 299
  14. ^"Luganville".Encyclopædia Britannica.Retrieved2007-10-23.
  15. ^"Diving Santos".Vanuatu Online.Retrieved2007-10-23.[permanent dead link]
  16. ^[email protected]."Tourist Information - Vanuatu Protected Areas Initiative / Loru Rainforest and Environment Centre".positiveearth.org.Archived fromthe originalon 2012-11-02.Retrieved2009-11-27.
  17. ^Pillon, Yohan (2018). A new species of Metrosideros (Myrtaceae) from Vanuatu and notes on the genus.PhytotaxaVol. 347 No. 2: 13 April 2018: 197–200. DOI:https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.347.2.10

External links[edit]

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