Baravet or Bwaravet (from
Ske ''bwara vet'' "big stone") is a cluster of villages in south-western
Pentecost Island
Pentecost is one of the 83 islands that make up the Oceania, South Pacific nation of Vanuatu.
It lies due north of capital Port Vila. Pentecost is known as in French language, French and in Bislama. The island was known in its native lan ...
,
Vanuatu
Vanuatu ( or ; ), officially the Republic of Vanuatu (; ), is an island country in Melanesia located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is east of northern Australia, northeast of New Caledonia, east o ...
.
The main village of Baravet is located by a river mouth on the coast, along the main north–south road 3 km north of
Lonorore Airport. The community has a
nakamal
A ''nakamal'' is a traditional meeting place in Vanuatu. It is used for gatherings, ceremonies and the drinking of kava.
A nakamal is found in every significant Vanuatu community, but the design of the nakamal and the traditions surrounding it ...
, a guesthouse and several small stores. The main village comprises the hamlets of Vanambil, Sovlet and Lalpseh. At Vastamit, across the river from the main village, are a
Churches of Christ
The Churches of Christ, also commonly known as the Church of Christ, is a loose association of autonomous Christian congregations located around the world. Typically, their distinguishing beliefs are that of the necessity of baptism for salvation ...
church and kindergarten.
Baravet is the hub of the
Ske language community, and has a traditional identity distinct from that of other parts of Central Pentecost and South Pentecost.
[Gray (2013), The Languages of Pentecost Island] The term 'Baravet' is sometimes used to refer to the entire Ske cultural area.
Baravet was severely damaged by
Cyclone Harold
Severe Tropical Cyclone Harold was a very powerful tropical cyclone which caused widespread destruction in the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, and Tonga during April 2020. It was the first Tropical cyclone scales#Australia and Fiji, Category 5 ...
in April 2020, with the nakamal and the majority of houses destroyed.
References
{{reflist
Populated places in Vanuatu
Penama Province