Vot Tande
Island in Torba Province, Vanuatu
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vot Tande [βɔt.taˈⁿdɛ] is an uninhabited islet of the Banks Islands of northern Vanuatu. It is located about 50 km (31 mi) due north of the island of Mota Lava. The islet of Vot Tande has never been inhabited. It is host to thousands of sea birds—especially frigatebirds, which have given their name to the islet.[2] It consists of two islands. The highest point of either of the islands is 64 meters above sea level.[3]
Vot Tande (Vet Tagde) | |
|---|---|
Location of Vot Tande in Banks Islands | |
  Vot Tande (Vet Tagde) Location in Vanuatu | |
| Coordinates: 13°15′35″S 167°38′32″E | |
| Country |  Vanuatu |
| Province | Torba Province |
| Area | |
• Total | 0.24 km2 (0.093 sq mi) |
| [1] | |
| Elevation | 64 m (210 ft) |
| Population (2009) | |
• Total | 26 |
| • Density | 110/km2 (280/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+11 (VUT) |
Geography
Name
The islet is known under various names, depending on which vernacular language is used. In all languages of the region, the meaning is the same: “the Rock of Frigatebirds”. Its reconstructed Proto-Torres-Banks name, based on the attested names below, is *βatu [ta]ɣaⁿdai, where *βatu means "stone" and *[ta]ɣaⁿdai means "frigatebird".
- In Löyöp (Ureparapara, formerly Rowa), it is called Vot Tade [βɔt.taˈⁿdɛ], with prenasalised [ⁿd]
- In Mwotlap (Mota Lava), it is known as Nevet Men Tagde [nɛˌβɛt.mɛn.taɰˈⁿdɛ], or under its older name Vet Tagde [βɛtaɰˈⁿdɛ].
- In Mota (Mota), it is called Vat Ganai [βat.ɣanai][4]
The spelling Vot Tande is a transcription of the Löyöp form. The variant Vetaoundé, which is found on old French maps, reflects an earlier attempt at spelling the older Mwotlap form. Other misspellings for the same islet include Vet Tande, Vot Ganai.