Gau Island

Gau (Fijian pronunciation: [ˈŋau], also known as Ngau in English)[1] is an island belonging to Fiji's Lomaiviti archipelago. Located at 18.00° S and 179.30 °E, it covers an area of 136.1 square kilometres (52.5 square miles), with a total shoreline that measures 66.3 kilometres (41.2 miles) long, making it the fifth largest island in the Fijian archipelago. Its maximum altitude is 738 metres (2,421 ft). To the north-west is Batiki, and to the north-east is Nairai.

A photo taken by NASA astronaut of Gau along with Nairai to the north-east.

Geography

The Gau Highlands Important Bird Area is an area covering the entire forested interior (just over 50% of the entire island) and measures 5,200 hectares (13,000 acres). It contains populations of the critically endangered Fiji petrel, and vulnerable shy ground-dove and collared petrel.[2] The Fiji petrel's nesting habitat on the island contributes to its national significance as outlined in Fiji's Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.[3]

A marine research facility was established on Naviavia beach on the western coast of Gau in 2005 by the UK-based non-governmental organization Frontier, commissioned by Dr. Joeli Veitayaki of the University of South Pacific, a native of Malawai on the eastern coast.

It has one airstrip at Lovu, on the southern tip of the island, which receives planes from Nausori International Airport. There are 16 villages on the island: Yadua, Vadra Vadra, Lovu, Levuka-i-Gau, Nukuloa, Nawaikama, Somosomo, Sawaieke (the chiefly village), Navukailagi, Qarani, Vione, Lekanai, Vanuaso, Nacavanadi, Malawai and Lamiti.[4] There is one secondary school on the island in Nawaikama, which also hosts hot springs nearby. Gau Island is widely regarded as having one of the best kava (yaqona) strains in Fiji.

Notable people

The first King of Fiji Seru Epenisa Cakobau grew up on the island,[4] despite being born on the nearby island Nairai.

References
  1. Pub. 126 Sailing Directions (Enroute) Pacific Islands (12 ed.). Springfield, Virginia: National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. 2017. p. 89. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  2. "BirdLife Data Zone". datazone.birdlife.org. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  3. Ganilau, Bernadette Rounds (2007). Fiji Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PDF). Convention on Biological Diversity. pp. 107–112. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  4. Qounadovu, Sikeli (12 March 2017). "The first settlers of Sawaieke". Fiji Times. Retrieved 24 July 2023.

18°4′S 179°19.99′E



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