Page 167 - Melanesia
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Viti Levu - Emerging from the Shadows
T he largest island, Viti Levu is home to 70% of the population the island, which is divided into roughly equal halves by a north-
(about 600,000) and is the hub of the entire Fijian archipelago. south mountain range. The eastern side of the island experiences
It measures 146 kilometers long and 106 kilometers wide and has heavy rainfall, while the western side is noticeably drier. According-
an area of 10,389 square kilometers comparable to the size of The ly, sugarcane production thrives in the west, while a dairy industry
Big Island of Hawaii or slightly smaller than Connecticut. Geologists is being built in the east. Fiji’s biggest cattle ranch, with 7000 head
believe that Viti Levu has been submerged a number of times, and of cattle in its 70 square kilometres, is at Yaqara, halfway between
has been covered by lava and other volcanic materials. Earthquakes Tavua and Rakiraki.
and volcanic eruptions account for the somewhat rugged terrain of
