Moso Island Explained

Moso
Settlement Type:Island
Pushpin Map:Vanuatu
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Vanuatu
Coordinates:-17.5333°N 183°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Vanuatu
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:Shefa Province
Seat Type:Municipality seat
Unit Pref:Metric
Area Total Km2:25.39
Elevation Max M:129
Population Total:237
Population As Of:2009
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone:VUT
Utc Offset:+11

Moso Island is an island off the northwest coast of Efate in Vanuatu, in Shefa Province. It is separated from Efate by Namoso Passage, which is wide at its narrowest point.

Along with Lelepa, it creates the harbour at north Efate known as Port Havannah. This harbour was a focal point during World War II, with many troops stationed there, including posts on Moso itself. Today, small tokens of the soldiers' presence can still be seen on Moso.

History

Seven villages were originally scattered throughout Moso Island until missionaries facilitated their formation into one coastal village, Sunae. This community was divided in two in the early 1990s and some people split from Sunae, forming Tassirki village on central Moso.

Transport

There are no roads or cars on Moso Island.

Access to the Island is via banana boat from Tanoliu Village in North East Efate.

Once on the Island you can walk anywhere.

Tourism

Tassiriki community, in conjunction with Wan Smolbag Theatre, is the base for a turtle monitoring programme on northwestern Efate. The project is run throughout Vanuatu with the goal of preserving the endangered turtle species found in the Pacific. The community operates a bungalow that accommodates volunteers who stay for short-term periods assisting the locals with the turtle monitoring programme.

Sunae community is attempting to initiate a small tour business to the eastern part of the island as part of a community development project. This part of the island is where parts of Les Aventuriers de Koh-Lanta, the French version of the Survivor TV series, were filmed.

Tranquility Dive and Resort is a commercial business run from the western part of the island and is well known for its dive sites.

Also now a few luxury homes have been developed and are rented to holiday makers, these homes are off the grid and operate via solar power and rain and well water.

Demographics

There are approximately 240 ni-Vanuatu inhabitants on Moso,[1] the majority in Tassirki village.

Economy

Fishing, subsistence agriculture and tourism make up the economy of Moso. People most frequently fish from the traditional outrigger canoes both during the day and night.

Notes and References

  1. http://www.governmentofvanuatu.gov.vu/index.php/publicationdocuments/vanuatu-statistics 2009 Census Summary release final