Time Zone |
Africa/Sao_Tome |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+0 |
Daylight Saving Time |
Daylight saving time is not observed in the current region. |
Time Zone |
Pacific/Wallis |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+12 |
Daylight Saving Time |
Daylight saving time is not observed in the current region. |
São Tomé and Príncipe is an island country in west-central Africa, consisting of the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe and the surrounding islets, with the capital, São Tomé, located in the northeastern part of São Tomé. Located on the Gulf of Guinea, about 200 kilometers from the African continent, the country was colonized by Portugal in the 15th century and became independent in 1975, with Portuguese as the official language and an economy based on agriculture (cocoa, palm oil) and tourism. It should be noted that "Java" is not a city or region of the country; Java is the main island of Indonesia, with cities such as Jakarta and Surabaya, and has nothing to do with São Tomé and Príncipe, possibly due to a confusion of names.
Wallis and Futuna is a French overseas collective territory located in the South Pacific Ocean, consisting of three main volcanic islands and a number of smaller islands. The capital, Mata'utu, is located on Wallis Island and is the political and economic center of the archipelago.
The archipelago is located between Fiji and Samoa and has a total area of about 142 square kilometers. Wallis Island has beautiful lagoons and coral reefs, while Futuna Island is known for its volcanic landscape and dense vegetation. The tropical maritime climate makes it warm and humid all year round, with an average annual temperature of about 27°C.
The vast majority of the approximately 11,000 inhabitants are Polynesian, retaining a traditional tribal system and chiefly culture. Catholicism is the main religion and the local languages, Wallisian and Futuna, are official along with French. Unique kava ceremonies and handicraft weaving are important cultural symbols.
The economy is based on subsistence farming, fishing and French government subsidies, with major exports of coconuts and handicrafts. The airport at Hoshilofu is the only international airport, with international connections through New Caledonia. The infrastructure of the islands is relatively simple and retains a simple Pacific island flavor.