An island country of the southern Pacific Ocean east of northern Australia. Inhabited primarily by Melanesian peoples, the islands were first sighted by the Portuguese in 1606 and charted by Capt. James Cook in 1774. Under joint French and British control after 1906, New Hebrides achieved independence as Vanuatu in 1980. Port-Vila, on Efate Island, is the capital. Population: 212,000.
Van'ua'tu·an adj. & n.
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