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General Information Area: 26 sq km (10 sq miles). Population: 11,000 (1998). Population Density: 423.1 per sq km. Capital: Funafuti. Population: 3836 (1996). GEOGRAPHY: Tuvalu (formerly the Ellice Islands) is a scattered group of nine small atolls in the western Pacific Ocean extending about 560km (350 miles) from north to south. Nearest neighbours are Fiji (to the south), Kiribati (north) and the Solomon Islands (west). The main island, Funafuti, is also the capital and lies 1920km (1200 miles) north of Suva, Fiji. Government: Constitutional monarchy. Gained independence from the UK in 1978. Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor-General Tomasi Puapua since 1998. Head of Government: Prime Minister Saufatu Sopoanga since 2002. Language: Tuvaluan and English are the main languages. Religion: Approximately 98 per cent Protestant. Time: GMT + 12. Electricity: 240 volts AC, 60Hz (Funafuti only). Telephone IDD service is available. Country code: 688. There are no area codes. Tuvalu has recently acquired satellite communications technology and international phone calls can be made from most of the islands. Fax Available at the Telecommunication Centre in Funafuti and in hotels. Internet ISPs include Tuvalu.TV (website: www.tuvalu.tv). Telegram Overseas telegrams may be sent via the Post Office in Funafuti. Post Airmail services to Europe take between five and ten days to arrive, but can be erratic. Tuvalu stamps are among the most sought after in the world. Press The Government Broadcasting and Information Division publishes Tuvalu Echoes (in English, on a fortnightly basis). BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 15.36 9.740 6.195 3.915 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 17.74 11.71 9.645 6.110 From www.columbusguides.com, Copyright © 2004 Highbury Columbus Travel Publishing Terms and Conditions apply.