Wallis and Futuna Capital

The capital city, and the largest city, of the Territory of Wallis and Futuna is called Mata-Utu. Mata-Utu is found in the district of Hahake on the Island of Uvea. Mata-Utu is also the capital of the Hahake District. The capital city is between Tahiti and Noumea. Mata-Utu is one of the ports of Wallis and Futuna with the other being Leava. Mata-Utu’s choice as the capital of Wallis and Futuna can be traced back to the 18^th century during the time of the Catholic missionaries. During that time, Mata-Utu was developed by the French into a thriving little town full of trade.

As of 1998, the population of Mata-Utu was 815. A census of 2003 shows that the population was 1,191. This population makes the city the most populated among the cities in the territory. Mata-Utu is the administrative and business headquarter where all the essential services can be found in the town including telephones, hospitals, banks, sports stadia, and other amenities and facilities.

There are several things of note in the capital city that might interest people. The city itself is enclosed by coral reefs. Downtown, the Mata-Utu Cathedral takes center stage. The cathedral is a national monument of France. On the monument, the royal insignia of Wallis can be seen. The royal insignia is a Maltese cross flanked by its towers. The cathedral, also called The Our Lady of Hope Cathedral, has a nice view of the lagoon. Close to the cathedral are several hotels and restaurants, amenities, and the Palace of the King of Uvea. The Palace is a simple structure adjoining the church. Opposite the wharf is a platform used by local leaders to address people. The platform is known as Fale Fono by the local populace. In the background is Mt. Lulu Fakahega which has an old church at the top accessible through a narrow road. In addition, two archaeological sites, Talietumu and Tonga Toto, are near the capital.

Mata-Utu is dominated by tropical climates with significant rainfall being received throughout the year. Even the hottest months receive plenty of rain. On average, the temperature of the capital is 27.1 degrees Celsius while the precipitation received is around 130.813 inches annually. February is the hottest month while August is the coldest month. Regarding rainfall, January is the wettest month with the average precipitation reaching 15.016 inches. August is the driest month with precipitation averaging 5.902 inches.