Wallis Islands

Wallis Islands

Island group (pop., 2003 prelim.: 10,071), forming the northeastern part of the French overseas territory of Wallis and Futuna, west-central South Pacific Ocean. It comprises the main island of Uvea (Wallis) and a number of islets, all enclosed in one coral reef, with a total land area of 23 sq mi (60 sq km). Visited in 1767 by the British navigator Capt. Samuel Wallis, the islands were occupied by the French in 1842. They became a French protectorate in 1887 and part of the overseas territory in 1961.