Nukufetau is an atoll that is part of the nation of Tuvalu. The atoll was claimed by the US under the Guano Islands Act some time in the 19th century and was ceded in a treaty of friendship concluded in 1979 and coming into force in 1983. It has a population of 597 who live on Savave islet (2017 Census). In 1951 the school that was located on Motumua islet was transferred to Savave and became the government primary school for Nukufetau. It was named the Tutasi Memorial School in honour of its predecessor. Geography Nukufetau is an atoll with passages through the reef that allow large ships to enter and anchor in the lagoon. Nukufetau consists of at least 33 islets: Faiava Lasi Fale Funaota Kongo Loto Lafanga Lafanga Matanukulaelae Motufetau Motulalo Motuloa (north of Nukufetau) Motuloa (south of Nukufetau) Motumua Niualuka Niuatui Oua Sakalua Savave Teafatule Teafuaniua Teafuanonu Teafuone Temotuloto and at least 12 other islands The biggest island is Motulalo. In the late 19th century, after the coming of the missionaries, the people of Nukufetau lived on Fale islet before shifting to Savave which is on the lagoon side of the Fale settlement. On Savave islet 331 people live in Aulotu and 191 live in Maneapa (2012 census). History The traditional history of Nukufetau is that a party of Tongans were the first people to settle. When they landed they found only one fetau (or fetaʻu in Tongan) tree growing on the atoll, so they called the place Nukufetau - the island of the fetau. They planted coconut trees and settled on Fale on the western side of the atoll. Arent Schuyler de Peyster, of New York, captain of the armed brigantine or privateer Rebecca, sailing under British colours, passed through the southern Tuvalu waters in May 1819 sighting Nukufetau. In 1820 the Russian explorer Mikhail Lazarev visited Nukufetau as commander of the Mirny. The United States Exploring Expedition under Charles Wilkes visited Nukufetau in 1841. Louis Becke, who later became a writer, operated a store on Nukufetau from February 1881 to August 1881. Becke later wrote a story about a fishing expedition: The Fisher Folk Of Nukufetau. The population of Nukufetau from 1860 to 1900 is estimated to be 250 people. Alfred Restieaux was a trader on Nukufetau in the late 19th century from 1873 to 1879 and met his wife Litia. He returned sometime in