Vanuatu
Vanuatu
- Capital
- Port Vila
- Population
- 307,150
- Region
- Oceania
- Languages
- Bislama, English, French
Vanuatu is widely considered the birthplace of bungee jumping, a tradition known locally as land diving or 'Naghol' on Pentecost Island. During this centuries-old ritual, men jump from tall wooden towers with nothing but vines tied to their ankles to ensure a good yam harvest and prove their courage. This death-defying cultural practice eventually inspired the modern extreme sport popularized globally in the 1980s. Divers must carefully select vines with the exact tension and length to ensure they graze the ground with their shoulders without impact.
Currency
The official currency is the Vanuatu Vatu, denoted by the ISO code VUV. It was introduced in 1981 shortly after independence to replace the New Hebrides franc, and notably, it is one of the few global currencies that does not have subunits like cents or pence.
Flag symbolism
The flag features a Y-shaped horizontal stripe that represents the geographical layout of the islands and the 'light of the Gospel' spreading through the nation. Green symbolizes the richness of the islands' lush vegetation, while red represents the blood of boars and the sacrifice of the people's ancestors. The black triangle signifies the Ni-Vanuatu people, and the yellow border represents the sunshine and peace. Each component is framed by a thin black outline to make the distinct colors of the Melanesian landscape stand out.
Emblem history
The national emblem features a Melanesian warrior standing before a curled boar's tusk and crossed 'namele' fern fronds. The boar's tusk is a powerful symbol of wealth and status in local customs, while the two fern leaves represent the 39 members of the original legislative assembly and traditional peace. Below the warrior, a scroll carries the national motto 'Long God yumi stanap,' which translates to 'In God we stand.' This design was adopted upon independence in 1980 to unify the diverse indigenous cultures under a singular national identity.