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Cyclone Bebe, which passed through the Tuvaluan islands in October 1972, submerged Funafuti and eliminated 90% of structures on the island. The storm surge created a wall of coral rubble along the ocean side of Fongafale and Funafala that was about 10 miles (16 km) long, and about 10 feet (3.0 m) to 20 feet (6.1 m) thick at the bottom.

Because of the low elevation, the islands of Tuvalu are vulnerable to the effects of tropical cyclones and by the threat of current and future sea level rise. The highest elevation is 4.6 metres (15 ft) above sea level on Niulakita.

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The Tuvalu national football team competes in the Pacific Games. In the first game of the 2011 Pacific Games against American Samoa, Tuvalu won 4-0. They drew the game with Guam 1-1 and lost their remaining matches and finished equal with Guam in Pool A with four points.

Football in Tuvalu is played at club and national team level. The Tuvalu national football team draws from players in the Tuvalu A-Division; with the national team training at the Tuvalu Sports Ground on Funafuti. The Tuvalu team is supported by the foundation Dutch Support Tuvalu.

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Children on Niutao attend primary school on the island; then they must attend Motufoua Secondary School, which is a boarding school on Vaitupu.

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Niutao is a reef island (as compared to an atoll) in the northern part of Tuvalu. A fringing reef surrounds the whole island, which makes any landing on the island difficult.

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The cuisine of Tuvalu is based on the staple of coconut and the many species of fish found in the ocean and the lagoons of the atolls of Tuvalu. Pulaka, (cyrtosperma merkusii), or swamp taro, is an important source of carbohydrates. Rice now forms an important part of the diet. Coconut is used in different forms with coconut water, coconut milk and the flesh of the coconut being used to flavour dishes. Various desserts made on the islands include coconut and coconut milk, instead of animal milk.

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The Tengako peninsula is at the north end of Fongafale islet of Funafuti atoll. At the end of the peninsula is Amatuku islet on which the Tuvalu Maritime Training Institute is located.

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The lagoon (Te Namo in Tuvaluan) of Funafuti atoll has a north-south length of 24.5 km, and east-west 17.5 km, with an area of 275 km², making it by far the largest lagoon of Tuvalu.

Due to the country's remoteness, Tuvalu does not attract large numbers of tourists. The main island of Funafuti is the focus of travellers, since the only airport in Tuvalu is the Funafuti International Airport and the island has hotel facilities. Ecotourism is a motivation of travellers to Tuvalu. The Funafuti Conservation Area consists of 33 square kilometres (12.74 square miles) of ocean, reef, lagoon, channel and six uninhabited islets.

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A photograph of a woman on Funafuti taken by Harry Clifford Fassett, the captain’s clerk on the 1889-1900 Pacific cruise of USFC Albatross. The traditional clothing of the women of Tuvalu was made from pandanus leaves.

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Funafuti International Airport (IATA: FUN, ICAO: NGFU) is an airport in Funafuti, it is the only airport in Tuvalu. The airport is somewhat unusual due to limited space on the island, the runway is used as a common area for sporting and social activities when not in use. Sirens sound when a plane is landing, warning civilians to stay clear of the runway. The airport was built in 1943 during World War II. The airport is at an elevation of 9 feet (3 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway which is 1,524 metres (5,000 ft) in length.

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