Niutao is a reef island in the northern part of Tuvalu. It is one of the nine districts (islands) of Tuvalu. It is also one of the three districts that consist of only one island - not counting the three islets inside the closed lagoon. Niutao has a population of 582 (2017 census). Geography There are two lakes (ponds or lagoons), which are brackish to saline. The larger has three islands and a dam. There are three wells from which fresher water sits in a "lens" above the salt water that leaches in through the coral. Older maps show the only village as Tuapa (with the neighbourhood of Angafoulua). The main village is Kulia; another village is Teava. There is a maneapa (community hall), Uepele Primary School, a church named Tineifale of the Church of Tuvalu, a post office, and three wells. A gravel road rings the island to connect the graveyard, half mile (800 m) counter clockwise from the village, and clockwise a quarter of a mile (400 m) to the hospital. The island is somewhat a horizontal oval which has a length of about one mile (1.6 km). Vegetation is abundant but of very limited variety. Main food staples are pulaka (Cyrtosperma merkusii) or swamp taro that is grown in the pits; breadfruit, coconut and pandanus is also cultivated. A fringing reef surrounds the whole island, which makes local fishing and transport into and out of the island difficult. In March 2015 Niutao suffered damage to houses, crops and infrastructure as the result of storm surges caused by Cyclone Pam. Demographics Newton (1967) estimated that the early 19th century population of Niutao was about 450 people, with these estimates derived from reports of European visitors to Niutao: In 1949, people from overpopulated Niutao settled on Niulakita. Official sources of the 2002 census of population, listed the village of Kulia (pop. 224) and the village of Teava (pop. 439). The 2012 census, listed the village of Kulia (pop. 200) and the village of Teava (pop. 406). Central Statistics Department (CSD) of Tuvalu recorded census results: The Census Monograph on Migration, Urbanization and Youth provides an analysis of the 2012 census and reported: Niutao and other northern islands had relatively high net migration losses, with most being internal migrants to Funafuti. History Prehistory Niutaoans believe that their ancestors came from Samoa in the 12th or 13th century. Niutaon mythology tells