Ratua, Vanuatu

Ratua, situated in the Vanuatu archipelago, is a 146-acre (59 ha) island located south of Espiritu Santo, between Aore and Malo islands.

Ratua
Island
Ratua Location in Vanuatu
Coordinates: 15°36′44″S 167°10′52″E
Country	Vanuatu
Province	Sanma Province
Area
• Total	0.59 km2 (0.23 sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+11 (VUT)
Website	Official website

History

In the early 1900s, during the Anglo-French condominium colony, when the Vanuatu archipelago was originally named New Hebrides until its independence in 1980, the island of Ratua was an uninhabited French coconut plantation where copra was produced.

Geography

The island is a rich sanctuary of flora and fauna, from active volcanoes, waterfalls, caves, reefs inhabited by sea tortoises and bright coral reefs, it is still covered by a plethora of flamboyant coconut and fruit trees.

Resort

In 2005, the island of Ratua became the property of a French nature lover who established a private resort which encapsulates the patrimonial association of nature preservation. The resort has adopted an "eco-friendly" philosophy, offering dynamic natural resources as well as employing local inhabitants of the island in order to grow and sustain their economy.

External links

• [1]
• [2]
• Official website - Ratua