Port Vila 57389 225785342 2008-07-15T11:39:32Z TXiKiBoT 3171782 robot Adding: [[gl:Port Vila]] {{Expand|date=January 2007}} {{refimprove|date=February 2007}} {{Infobox Settlement <!--See Template:Infobox Settlement for additional fields that may be available--> <!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage--> <!-- Basic info ----------------> |name =Port Vila <!-- at least one of the first two fields must be filled in --> |official_name = |other_name = |native_name = <!-- if different from the English name --> |nickname = |settlement_type =Capital City <!--such as Town, Village, City, Borough etc.--> |total_type = <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows --> |motto = <!-- images and maps -----------> |image_skyline = Port Vila aerial.jpg |imagesize = |image_caption = Aerial view of central Port Vila |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_shield = |shield_size = |image_blank_emblem = |blank_emblem_type = |blank_emblem_size = |image_map = Nh-map.png |mapsize =150px |map_caption = Map of Vanuatu |image_map1 = |mapsize1 = |map_caption1 = |image_dot_map = |dot_mapsize = |dot_map_caption = |dot_x = |dot_y = |pushpin_map = <!-- name of a location map as per Template:Location_map --> |pushpin_label_position = <!-- position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none --> |pushpin_map_caption = |pushpin_mapsize = <!-- Location ------------------> |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = {{flag|Vanuatu}} |subdivision_type1 = Province |subdivision_name1 = [[Shefa Province]] |subdivision_type2 = |subdivision_name2 = |subdivision_type3 = |subdivision_name3 = |subdivision_type4 = |subdivision_name4 = <!-- Smaller parts (e.g. boroughs of a city) and seat of government --> |seat_type = |seat = |parts_type = |parts_style = <!-- =list (for list), coll (for collapsed list), para (for paragraph format) Default is list if up to 5 items, coll if more than 5--> |parts = <!-- parts text, or header for parts list --> |p1 = |p2 = <!-- etc. up to p50: for separate parts to be listed--> <!-- Politics -----------------> |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = <!--add (no-break space) to leader names to disable automatic links--> |leader_title1 = |leader_name1 = |leader_title2 = |leader_name2 = |leader_title3 = |leader_name3 = |leader_title4 = |leader_name4 = |established_title = <!-- Settled --> |established_date = |established_title1 = <!-- Incorporated (town) --> |established_date1 = |established_title2 = <!-- Incorporated (city) --> |established_date2 = |established_title3 = |established_date3 = |founder = |named_for = <!-- Area ---------------------> |area_magnitude = <!-- use only to set a special wikilink --> |unit_pref =Imperial <!--Enter: Imperial, to display imperial before metric--> |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 = <!-- ALL fields with measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion--> |area_land_km2 = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on unit conversion--> |area_water_km2 = |area_total_dunam = <!--Used in Middle East articles only--> |area_total_sq_mi = |area_land_sq_mi = |area_water_sq_mi = |area_water_percent = |area_urban_km2 = |area_urban_sq_mi = |area_metro_km2 = |area_metro_sq_mi = |area_blank1_title = |area_blank1_km2 = |area_blank1_sq_mi = <!-- Elevation --------------------------> |elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> tags--> |elevation_m = |elevation_ft = |elevation_max_m = |elevation_max_ft = |elevation_min_m = |elevation_min_ft = <!-- Population -----------------------> |population_as_of =1999 |population_footnotes = |population_note = |population_total =29356 |population_density_km2 = <!--For automatic calculation, any density field may contain: auto --> |population_density_sq_mi = |population_metro = |population_density_metro_km2 = |population_density_metro_sq_mi = |population_urban = |population_density_urban_km2 = |population_density_urban_sq_mi = |population_blank1_title = |population_blank1 = |population_density_blank1_km2 = |population_density_blank1_sq_mi = <!-- General information ---------------> |timezone = |utc_offset = |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = | coor_type = <!-- can be used to specify what the coordinates refer to --> |latd=17 |latm=45 |lats= |latNS=S |longd=168 |longm=18 |longs= |longEW=E <!-- Area/postal codes & others --------> |postal_code_type = <!-- enter ZIP code, Postcode, Post code, Postal code... --> |postal_code = |area_code = |twin1 = |twin1_country = |twin2 = |twin2_country = |twin3 = |twin3_country = |twin4 = |twin4_country = |twin5 = |twin5_country = |twin6 = |twin6_country = |twin7 = |twin7_country = |blank_name = |blank_info = |blank1_name = |blank1_info = |blank2_name = |blank2_info = |blank3_name = |blank3_info = |blank4_name = |blank4_info = |blank5_name = |blank5_info = |blank6_name = |blank6_info = |website = |footnotes = }} '''Port Vila''' ({{pronEng|ˌpɔrt ˈviːlə}}) is the [[Capital|capital city]] of [[Vanuatu]]. It is also Vanuatu's largest city. Situated on the south coast of the island of [[Efate]], in [[Shefa Province]], the city population at last [http://www.apcdproject.org/countryprofile/vanuatu/vanuatu_intro.html#intro2 census] (1999) was 29,356,<ref>National Statistics Office 2000, The 1999 Vanuatu National Population And Housing Census, Government of Vanuatu, Port Vila</ref> an increase of 55% on the previous census result (1989). This suggests a 2007 population of about 40,000 or around 65% of the province's population. Port Vila is the economic and commercial centre of [[Vanuatu]]. == History == [[Image:Vanuatu_Parliament.jpg|thumb|Vanuatu Parliament]] The area occupied by Port Vila has been inhabited by [[Melanesia]]n people for thousands of years. In [[1606]], the first Europeans arrived at the island, led by [[Pedro Fernández de Quirós]] and [[Luis Váez de Torres]]. In the 19th century, French settlers established the municipality of [[Franceville, New Hebrides|Franceville]], which declared independence in [[1889]] and became the first [[self-governing]] nation to practice [[universal suffrage]] without distinction of sex or race. Although the population at the time consisted of about 500 native islanders and less than 50 whites, only the latter were permitted to hold office. One of the elected presidents was a [[United States|U.S.]] citizen by birth, [[R.D. Polk]].<ref>"Wee, Small Republics: A Few Examples of Popular Government," ''Hawaiian Gazette'', Nov 1, 1895, p1</ref> After [[1887]] the territory was jointly administered by the [[French Empire|French]] and the [[British Empire|British]]. This was formalized in [[1906]] as an Anglo-French [[Condominium (international law)|Condominium]]. During [[World War II]], Port Vila was an [[United States|American]] and [[Australia|Australian]] airbase. In [[1987]], a [[cyclone]] severely damaged the city. Another powerful [[earthquake]] in January [[2002]] caused extensive damage in the capital and surrounding areas. == Economy == [[Image:Port Vila market.jpg|thumb|Port Vila market]] Port Vila is [[Vanuatu]]'s most important [[harbor|harbour]] and the centre of the country's trade. The international [[airport]], [[Bauerfield International Airport|Bauerfield International]] is also located in the city. Major industries in the city remain [[agriculture]] and [[fishing]]. Tourism is also becoming important, especially from [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]]. There were over 50,000 visitors in 1997. [[Vanuatu]] is a [[tax haven]], and offshore financing in Port Vila is an important part of the economy. [[Vanuatu]] is still dependent on [[foreign aid]], most of which comes from [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]] although in recent years aid has also come from the Peoples Republic of China. Examples of Aid has been the New Zealand Government paying to train doctors selected from the local community and then paying part of their wages during the first year after qualification and Australia paying the wages of consultants to work in Port Vila Central Hospital. 35.7% of exports leave from Port Vila, whereas 86.9% of imports into the country arrived in Port Vila. {{See also|Economy of Vanuatu}} == Demographics == [[Image:Port Vila street band.jpg|thumb|Street band in Port Vila]] {{See also|Demographics of Vanuatu}} The population of Port Vila is around 38,000. The population is predominately [[Melanesia]]n, with small [[Polynesia]]n, [[Asia]]n and [[Europe]]an populations, namely [[France|French]] and [[United Kingdom|British]]. === Language === In Port Vila, [[Bislama]] is spoken by all the population as the day-to-day language. In addition, [[English language|English]] and [[French language|French]] are also widespread. Other [[Languages of Vanuatu|Indigenous languages]] are also spoken in the city. === Religion === [[Christianity]] is the predominant religion across all of [[Vanuatu]], followed by more than 90% of the population. The largest denomination is the [[Presbyterian Church]], followed by one third of the population. [[Roman Catholicism]] and the [[Church of Melanesia]] are also common, each about 15%. == Climate == Port Vila has a [[tropical climate]], with a [[Dry season]] and a hot, [[Wet season]]. Rainfall averages about 2,360 millimetres (94 in.) per year. The area also has South-East [[trade winds]]. == Education == Port Vila is one location of the [[University of the South Pacific]], an educational institution co-owned by twelve [[Pacific]] countries. The [[Vanuatu]] campus is the only law school in the university, it also teaches language. == World Heritage == Port Vila was the location in August 1999 for the important [[UNESCO]] meeting ”2nd World Heritage Global Strategy Meeting for the Pacific Islands Region”. One of the major topics with reference to Vanuata and the Pacific region was the question of the suitability of [[underwater archeology|underwater heritage]] for inscription on the [[World Heritage List]].<ref>[http://whc.unesco.org/archive/vanuatu99.htm Second World Heritage Global Strategy Meeting for the Pacific, Port Vila (Vanuatu) 24-27 August 1999<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} [[Category:Cities, towns and villages in Vanuatu]] [[Category:Capitals in Oceania]] [[Category:Port cities in Oceania]] {{coor title dm|17|45|S|168|18|E}} [[am:ፖርት ቪላ]] [[be-x-old:Порт Віла]] [[bi:Port Vila]] [[bg:Порт Вила]] [[ca:Port Vila]] [[cs:Port Vila]] [[de:Port Vila]] [[es:Port Vila]] [[eu:Port Vila]] [[fa:پورت ویلا]] [[fr:Port-Vila]] [[gd:Port Vila]] [[gl:Port Vila]] [[ko:포트빌라]] [[hr:Port Vila]] [[io:Port Vila]] [[id:Port Vila]] [[it:Port Vila]] [[he:פורט וילה]] [[sw:Port Vila]] [[ht:Pò Vila]] [[lt:Port Vila]] [[hu:Port Vila]] [[nl:Port Vila]] [[ja:ポートビラ]] [[no:Port Vila]] [[oc:Port Vila]] [[pms:Port Vila]] [[pl:Port Vila]] [[pt:Port Vila]] [[ru:Порт-Вила]] [[simple:Port Vila]] [[sk:Port Vila]] [[sr:Порт Вила]] [[fi:Port Vila]] [[sv:Port Vila]] [[uk:Порт-Віла]] [[vo:Port Vila]] [[bat-smg:Port Vila]] [[zh:維拉港]]