| About Vanuatu |
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| Points of Interest |
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Historic Dive Sites
Vanuatu was a strategic base for U.S. forces during WWII and remnants of the war have become popular diving sites. Over 100,000 American troops were stationed on the islands. The ocean liner SS President Coolidge, which carried over 5,000 soldiers around the South Pacific, sank off the island of Espiritu Santo in 1942 and is now the largest shipwreck in the world accessible to divers. Also popular is the “Million Dollar Point” where divers can find tons of war surplus that was dumped into the ocean during the military's withdrawal after the war.
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Vanuatu selected for Millennium Challenge Account
Vanuatu is among 16 countries to be chosen for the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), a new aid fund launched in February 2004. According to the US Millennium Challenge Act, the MCA provides “assistance to countries that enter into compacts with the United States to support policies and programs that advance the prospects of such countries achieving lasting economic growth and poverty reduction." |
Tales of the South Pacific
James Michener’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel Tales of the South Pacific was taken from his own experiences in the U.S. Navy during WWII. The islands of Vanuatu are the setting of a young marine's struggle for love and survival during his tour in the South Pacific. The novel later became a hit Broadway musical and Hollywood movie under the title South Pacific. |
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Survivor
The ninth season of Survivor was filmed on the islands of Vanuatu. Survivor is a popular American reality-TV series in which contestants compete against each other in a variety of competitions in their quest to be named the sole "Survivor."
The Vanuatu series was filmed in the summer of 2004. Movie clips and images can be viewed from the CBS website. |
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Underwater Post Office |
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The world’s first underwater post office is located in a marine sanctuary by Hideaway Island, just outside of Port Vila. Waterproof postcards can be purchased in shops around town and divers can have postcards embossed with a waterproof stamp. |
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