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Banks and Torres


The Banks and Torres islands, in the northernmost part of Vanuatu, include some sixty islands, of which thirteen only are inhabited. The others are mainly tiny islets of white sand or volcanic rock. Since the 8th of December 1994 they form the Torba province with a population just over 8000. The Torres take their name from Captain Luis Vaez de Torres who was a member of the Quiros expedition and the Banks owe theirs to the botanist Joseph Banks who came over with James Cook in 1774.

Located some 180 km south of the Solomon Islands, these northernmost islands are not very well known, but are reputed for the friendliness and warmth of their inhabitants and the beauty of their surroundings.

Banks Islands


Lying 65 km to the south of the Torres Islands, the Banks extend over 144 km lengthwise and include two main islands : Vanua Lava and Gaua. Custom dancers from the Banks are known to be superb dancers and they are not an uncommon sight a Sola, or at Port Vila in some of the hotels, or at any one of the cultural events. The 1st September each year is Vanua Lava Day. All welcome - contact 38550.

In these virgin islands, the fauna is quite varied, and along with the crabs, the lobsters and the prawns, you can find turtles, wild pigs, Pacific boas, giant turtles and crocodiles who apparently escaped from Bishop Patterson’s ship in 1860 and managed to survive and reproduce until a cyclone devastated them in 1972, leaving only 2 survivors.
Vanua Lava, with an area of 330 km2, is the biggest island and has its own airstrip, at Sola. The highest point is Mount Tola in the south of the group, with 946 m.
To the north, Mount Sere Ama (921 m) overlooks an active volcano, with 2 smokeholes and 2 small lakes where the water level changes constantly.

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