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.
More info
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