Tuvalu means “cluster of eight islands” in the language of the natives who live there.
This tiny nation actually consists of nine islands in the South Pacific, but only eight of them are inhabited. The islands form a chain about 360 miles long. The total area of the nine islands is less than ten square miles.
Before Tuvalu gained its independence in 1978, the people of the islands had to decide whether they wanted to be ruled by a king or to become a republic.
To settle the question, eight representatives of Tuvalu’s governing body toured the islands and asked for advice from every single citizen of Tuvalu, including the children!
The people of Tuvalu decided on a 12-member parliament and a prime minister, adopting a system of government like England’s.
