Uvea

The uvea (Lat. uva, grape), also called the uveal layer, uveal coat, uveal tract, or vascular tunic, is the pigmented middle of the three concentric layers that make up an eye. The name is possibly a reference to its reddish-blue or almost black colour, wrinkled appearance and grape-like size and shape when stripped intact from a cadaveric eye. Its use as a technical term in anatomy and ophthalmology is relatively modern.

Structure

Regions

The uvea is the vascular middle layer of the eye. It is traditionally divided into three areas, from front to back, the:

Function

The prime functions of the uveal tract as a unit are:

Wallis (island)

Wallis (Wallisian: ʻUvea) is an island in the Pacific Ocean belonging to the French overseas collectivity (collectivité d'outre-mer, or COM) of Wallis and Futuna.

Geography

The island has an area of 77,5 km² and a circumference of c. 50 km. Its highest point is Mount Lulu Fakahega (131 m). There are also a handful of large lakes such as Lake Lalolalo, a sign of the island's volcanic origin, some of them almost perfect circles and with straight vertical walls, like Lalolalo, Lanu'tavake.

Uvea is located 240 km northeast of Futuna and Alofi islands. Together with some 15 smaller islands surrounding it, on its huge barrier reef, it forms the Wallis archipelago. Wallis has a fertile volcanic soil and sufficient rainfall to allow subsistence farming.

Uvea is subdivided into three districts (north to south):

Uvea (Wallis and Futuna)

ʻUvea (Wallisian: ʻUvea, French: Royaume coutumiers de Uvea) is one of the three official chiefdoms (Royaume coutumiers) of the French territory of Wallis and Futuna (the other two being Sigave and Alo) in Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean.

Geography

Overview

ʻUvea encompasses the whole of Wallis Island and the surrounding islets. The total area of the kingdom is 96 km² with a population of 10,731 spread over three districts. The capital and largest village is Matāʻutu situated on the east coast with a population of 1,100).

Administrative division

The chiefdom counts 3 districts and 21 municipalities:

History

ʻUvea has probably been inhabited by Polynesians since the 15th century CE and was then part of the Tu'i Tonga Empire. The two archaeological sites of Talietumu and Tonga Toto are remains from that period.

The kingdom of ʻUvea was founded sometimes in the 15th century and the monarch was titled Tuʻi ʻUvea (king).

April 5, 1887 the island became a French Protectorate after queen Amelia Tokagahahau Aliki signed a treaty with France but keeping her royal powers.