Vanuatu Antipode: The Other Side of the Earth
Dig a straight tunnel down through Port Vila and you would surface in Mauritania, the point on the planet exactly opposite Vanuatu.
Port Vila: 17.7S 168.3E
Antipode: 17.7N 11.7W (Mauritania)
What is the antipode of Vanuatu?
An antipode is the point on the far side of the Earth, exactly opposite a given location. Measured from Port Vila, the antipode of Vanuatu sits at 17.7N 11.7W in Mauritania. That makes Vanuatu and Mauritania antipodal neighbours, a genuinely rare pairing: roughly 85 percent of all land has its antipode in the ocean.
Frequently Asked Questions about Vanuatu's Antipode
What is the antipode of Vanuatu?
The antipode of Vanuatu, measured from Port Vila, is at 17.7N 11.7W, which lies in Mauritania.
If you dug straight through the Earth from Vanuatu, where would you come out?
You would surface in Mauritania, on the exact opposite side of the planet from Port Vila.
Why is Vanuatu's antipode on land?
Most land antipodes fall in water, so a land-on-land pairing like Vanuatu and Mauritania is uncommon and worth noting.