Alexandra Rocha Ana Catarina Joo Freitas Maria Miguel Sara Silva

Tuvalu, formerly the Ellice Islands, is an island nation spread over a large area of the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Although its name means "cluster of eight", Tuvalu includes nine islands; the eight stars on the flag symbolize Tuvalu's eight inhabited islands.

In 1974, ethnic differences within the British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands caused the Polynesians of the Ellice Islands to vote for separation from the Micronesians of the Gilbert Islands. The following year, the Ellice Islands became the separate British colony of Tuvalu. Independence was granted in 1978.

The State of Tuvalu is located in the Pacific Ocean, in the northeast of Australia, midway to Hawaii.

Tuvalu is a nation where English is one of the official languages. The other official language is Tuvaluan.

Tuvalu consists of 9 islands: Funafuti, Vaitupu, Nanumea, Nui, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae, Nanumanga, Niulakita, Niutao.

Tuvalus has 26 km2 of area and approximately 11 810 habitants, most of them Polynesians.

The capital is Funafuti with 4500 habitants.

Tuvalu indigenous

The dollar is the currency of Tuvalu. Other currencies used in Tuvalu have been the Pound Sterling, prior to the introduction of the Australian dollar, as well as the US dollar, during the World War II American occupation of the islands.

With largely infertile soil and no known mineral resources, Tuvalu is one of the world's poorest nations. Fishing and subsistence farming are the chief economic activities of all but about 15 percent of the population. Coconuts, pandanus, breadfruit, bananas, and root crops can survive the salty air and poor soil. Copra (dried coconut meat) is exported.

February 1952); represented by Governor General Iakoba TAEIA Italeli (since May 2010).

Queen Elizabeth II (since 6

The Tuvaluan monarchy is a system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the Sovereign of Tuvalu. Tuvalu shares the Sovereign with 15 other Commonwealth realms. The Queen's constitutional roles are mostly delegated to the GovernorGeneral of Tuvalu. Royal succession is governed by the English Act of Settlement of 1701, which is part of constitutional law.

The vegetation is typical of palm trees. The coconut palm gives the canopy. Another type of vegetation including banana, papaya, pandanus and breadfruit. The seabed is totally virgin. The marine fauna is abundant in the back and lagoons with tropical fish of various colors.