Nanumanga

Nanumanga, sometimes known as Nanumaga, is a reef island in the Oceanian island nation of Tuvalu. It has a population of 491 people and a surface area of around 3 km2 (2017 Census). The Nanumaga landscape includes the main village settlements of Tonga and Tokelau, the two main pits for swamp taro (Cyrtosperma merkusii) (known as Pulaka in Tuvalu), the mangrove forest surrounding the internal lagoons, and areas of general vegetation that include coconuts, pandanus trees, and other vegetation types.

The island is shaped like an oval, with the longer axis orientated north-south. The entire island is surrounded by a fringing reef, making local fishing and transportation into and out of the island difficult. There are two brackish-water lagoons, the largest of which is Vaiatoa, which has four islands. Vaiatoa Lagoon lies in the north of the island, while Ha'apai Lagoon is in the south. To the south of Vaiatoa Lagoon, a causeway has been built, connecting the villages of Tonga and Matematefaga.

Mangrove trees, native broadleaf forest, and coconut palms can be found. Tuvalu has two mangrove species: the common Togo (Rhizophora stylosa) and the red-flowered mangrove Sagale (Lumnitzera littorea). The mangrove forest of the northern Vaiatoa lagoon is approximately 20 hectares in size. The entire island of Nanumaga is covered by a Locally Managed Marine Area. Spear fishing is likewise prohibited on the reef, and no fishing is permitted on the reef on the western side of the island other than handlining. Spear fishing is also prohibited on the island. A sea mound right off the island's northern tip is an essential critical fishing area that has been designated as a "no anchor zone."

Location: Tuvalu