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Funafuti atoll

Funafuti is an atoll on which the capital of the island nation of Tuvalu is located. It has a population about 6,194 people (2012), making it the most populated atoll with 57.2 percent of Tuvalu's population.

The lagoon (Te Namo in Tuvaluan) is by far the largest lagoon in Tuvalu. The land area of the 33 islets aggregates to 2.4 square kilometres (0.9 sq mi), less than one percent of the total area of the atoll. In June 1996, the Funafuti Conservation Area was established along the western rim of the reef, encompassing six islets. It has an area of 33 km², containing 20 percent of the reef area of Funafuti.

The founding ancestor of the people of Funafuti is described as being from Samoa. The name of one of the islets Funafala means 'the pandanus of Funa', the name of a chief, after whom also the atoll has been named Funafuti. (More...)