Everything about Espiritu Santo totally explained
» For the island in the Gulf of California, see Isla Espíritu Santo. For the university, see UEES.
Espiritu Santo (from the
Spanish espíritu santo, "
Holy Spirit", sometimes called just
Santo) is the largest
island in the nation of
Vanuatu, with a surface area of 3955.5 km². It belongs to the
archipelago of the New Hebrides in the Pacific region of
Melanesia. It is in the
Sanma Province of Vanuatu.
The town of
Luganville, on Espiritu Santo's southeast coast, is Vanuatu's second-largest settlement and the provincial capital. Roads run north and west from Luganville but most of the island is far from the limited road network.
Vanuatu's highest peak is the 1879 metre (6165 foot)
Mount Tabwemasana in west-central Espiritu Santo.
History
The
Portuguese explorer
Pedro Fernandes de Queirós, working for
Spain, established a settlement in 1606 at Big Bay on the north side of the island. Espiritu Santo takes its name from Queirós, who named the entire island group
La Austrialia del Espíritu Santo. During the time of the
British–
French Condominium,
Hog Harbour, on the northeast coast, was the site of the British district administration, while
Segond, near Luganville was the French district administration.
During the latter stages of
World War II the island was the site of a large United States and Allied forces military supply and support base and airfield. The US presence is marked by the renowned diving spot 'Million Dollar Point', where the US military dumped all its equipment before leaving the island, resulting in an underwater display of tractors, aeroplanes and millions of 7-Up and Coca-Cola bottles lined up on the seabed.
Between May and August 1980 the island was the site of a rebellion during the transfer of power over the colonial
New Hebrides from the condominium to independent Vanuatu.
Jimmy Stevens'
Nagriamel movement, in alliance with private French interests and backed by the Phoenix Foundation and American libertarians hoping to establish a tax-free haven, declared the island of Espiritu Santo independent of the new government. A
Republic of Vemerana was proclaimed. British
Royal Marines and a unit of the French
Garde Mobile were deployed to the Vanuatu's capital island but didn't invade Espiritu Santo as the soon-to-be government had hoped. The troops were recalled shortly before independence. Following independence Vanuatu, now governed by Father
Walter Lini, requested assistance from
Papua New Guinea, whose forces invaded and restored order on Espiritu Santo.
James Michener was stationed here during World War II and it's the real life setting of Tales of the South Pacific.
Culture
Santo, with many wrecks and reefs to be explored, is a very popular tourist destination for divers. Champagne Beach draws tourists with its pink sand and clear waters. The "Western Side" of the island contains many caves which may be explored, and cruise ships often stop in at
Luganville.
The local people survive by supporting the tourist trade, by cash-crop farming (
peanuts) or by subsistence farming and fishing.
Most Santo people are Christians. The largest church groups on the island are the
Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu, the
Roman Catholic Church and the
Church of Melanesia (
Anglican). Also active are the
Apostolic Church, the
Church of Christ, the
Seventh-day Adventist Church, and others. However, in many villages, particularly in Big Bay and South Santo, the people are "
heathen", a term that in Vanuatu has no pejorative connotation &emdash; it simply denotes someone who hasn't embraced Christianity.
Customary beliefs of a more modern sort are found among followers of the
Nagriamel movement based in
Fanafo.
For almost all Santo people custom plays a large part in their lives, regardless of their religion. The chief system continues strongly in most areas.
The people of Santo face some health problems, especially
malaria,
tuberculosis and a rising number of
HIV cases. Although there's a hospital, most locals consult either their own
witch doctor or medical clinics set up by western missionaries.
Kava is the popular drug of the island, although alcohol is becoming more prevalent. With the rising number of adults using alcohol, there's a rising crime rate, especially involving violence toward women, and tribal warfare.
Food
Santo is home to a number of cattle farms (including the famous
Belmol Cattle Project, originally established by French settlers) and exports much of its beef to Japan, Australia and other Pacific Island countries.
Besides beef, tin fish and rice, bought in town, Santo has many foods that locals take for granted and that tourists enjoy as delicacies. Among these are sweet pineapples, mangos, island cabbage, flying fox and
coconut crab, as well as local nuts such as natapoa and the sweet fleshy-fruit nouse. There is a market in Luganville for groceries and many roadside stores, often run by Chinese.
Many local people still rely on subsistence farming for their food. Most villages have a garden that's tended by men and women alike. Taro and yam are commonly grown in these gardens, and are mainstays of the local diet.
Further Information
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