YJ0CA – Vanuatu

Chris, VK2YUS will be active again from July 30 to August 10, 2024 as YJ0CA from Vanuatu.
He will operate from SSB at 40-10 meters.
Nearest DX Point YJ
QTH – Port Vila, Efate Island, IOTA OC – 035.
Call QSL directly from your home phone.
Direct QSL advertising:
Chris Ayres, 3/19-21 Eastern Rd, Turramurra, NSW 2074, Australia.

Vanuatu

The Republic of Vanuatu (historically known as New Mix Island) is a colorful country in Melanesia that consists of 83 islands of varying sizes. Some of these islands have been inhabited for hundreds of years, while others are so small that their surface is barely large enough for a bird’s nest. The island nation stretches for 1,300 kilometers off the coast of the South Pacific. The capital is the modern city of Port Vila.

Vanuatu is an amazing corner of unspoiled nature, with amazing diversity. Geographical features and the great distances between islands have resulted in different flora, landscapes and fauna. Thanks to these differences, Vanuatu is constantly full of surprises. Here you can find cities with developed infrastructure and a vibrant nightlife, as well as authentic villages with ancient cultural traditions.

Erakor Lagoon Holiday Resort, Vanuatu. Author – Melissa Hansen.

Ancient History

According to archaeological research, the first human settlements in Vanuatu date back to 2000 BC, when the natives of the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea migrated here. Soon, the number of immigrants became so large that entire tribes sailed to Vanuatu in giant canoes that could accommodate 200 people. The locals brought farms and wild animals, plant seeds and religious ritual objects. The traces of the first settlements were found on the island of Malo – about 3000 years ago, representatives of the ancient Lapita culture lived there. Later, the Mangaasi tribe appeared on the archipelago, which was also very advanced at the time – they engaged in fishing, agriculture, as well as pottery making. Over time, two different cultures merged and formed the ancestors of today’s Vanuatu people.

Magical rituals and cannibalism

Today, cannibalism in Melanesia is mostly fictional – this horrific tradition died out with the extinction of tribes that no longer exist. But archaeological discoveries prove that the ancient inhabitants of Vanuatu once practiced cannibalism. In a cemetery dating back to the 17th century BC, human skeletons with characteristic markings were found. Later, similar burials were found on different islands, and the remains also bore the marks of human teeth.

Vanuatu. Author – Tim Edmuns.

The Discovery of Vanuatu and “Blackbird Hunting”

The existence of these islands was unknown to Europeans until 1606, when Spanish navigators accidentally landed on the island of Merlava. Explorers discovered the archipelago on their way to Australia, and a few months later, the archipelago was discovered. But for the next 166 years, no European set foot on Vanuatu. The second successful expedition was led by the French, and in 1774, the famous James Cook visited the archipelago and named it the New Mixed Islands. The first European settlers arrived in the islands in the mid-19th century. They replaced the local population, which also declined sharply due to the diseases they brought. Europeans recruited locals to work on foreign plantations – the slave trade was already illegal at the time. Voluntary servitude was called blackbird hunting.

Sandalwood is Vanuatu’s gold mine

The New Mix Islands have always been known for their rich natural resources. To the surprise of Europeans, this land is rich in a precious wood – sandalwood. The aromatic wood of this evergreen plant is used to make luxurious furniture, shoes and various decorative items. It is also used to extract essential oils, which are widely used in the production of medicines, cosmetics and perfumes. Soon, huge sandalwood plantations were established on the islands, and local indigenous people worked day and night. Five islands, including Espiritu Santo, became the area with the largest area of ​​sandalwood cultivation. The sandalwood trade did not begin to decline until the end of the 19th century.

Blue Lake, Vanuatu. Author – Jan Kokes.

Ancient Aboriginal tradition

Today, Vanuatu is an independent country. The country has three official languages: French, English and Bislama. Since only 4% of the population is European, most locals speak Bislama, the native language of the archipelago’s original inhabitants. Surprisingly, almost everyone is a Christian, which was introduced to Vanuatu in the mid-19th century with European missionaries. The indigenous inhabitants of small villages on the most remote islands still observe the traditions and religion of their ancestors. They also perform mysterious ceremonies and drink a drink made from the bark of a local plant that has a mild narcotic effect. There are shamans in every village who are happy to engage with tourists. Vanuatu is a republic, but there are also some unique features. The village chief is still absolutely respected by the locals and is considered an unspoken authority.

Exotic cuisine

The local cuisine is based on traditional Melanesian dishes with a local twist. The biggest influences on Vanuatu’s culinary traditions were the Spanish, British and French settlers, who brought European recipes with them. However, the islands did not have all the ingredients needed to make these dishes, so familiar European dishes took on a whole new twist. Fish and seafood are the most common foods eaten by the locals. Shellfish are plentiful in the southern Pacific Ocean, and the Vanuatu cook them with fruit sauces, yams and cassava. A traditional dish is Lapu-Lapu. It is made with cooked cassava bits, ripe bananas, coconut pulp and wild spinach. As the islands now have a large population of wild and farm animals, their meat is also part of the local diet.

Complete ecosystem

Vanuatu is an island that has been virtually untouched by Europeans (except for the felling of sandalwood trees). The flora and fauna of the archipelago have evolved over decades and are now incredibly diverse. Some of the animals and plants were introduced by the first settlers of Papua New Guinea, others by Europeans. There are about 900 species of plants, 130 of which are unique. The most valuable tree species are sandalwood and kauri. The flora of Vanuatu varies depending on the geographical location of the islands. In some places it is tropical, on others it is more arid and is a typical savannah. No large mammals are seen here, except for bats and foxes. The coastal waters are home to sharks, crocodiles, poisonous fish and turtles. Swimming in the sea is not safe and tourists are often warned. At the same time, the archipelago is home to 60 species of birds, nearly twenty species of reptiles and a large number of insects. The archipelago is home to 60 species of birds, nearly twenty species of reptiles and a large number of insects, five of which are unique to the area (and cannot be found anywhere else in the world).

YJ0CA. Where is Vanuatu located. Map.