Tuvalu (i/tuːˈvɑːluː/ too-VAH-loo or /ˈtuːvəluː/ TOO-və-loo), formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia. It comprises three reef islands and six true atolls spread out between the latitude of 5° to 10° south and longitude of 176° to 180°, west of the International Date Line. Its nearest neighbours are Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Fiji. Tuvalu has a population of 10,640 (2012 census). The total land area of the islands of Tuvalu is 26 square kilometres (10 sq mi). 

In 1568, Spanish navigator Álvaro de Mendaña was the first European to sail through the archipelago, sighting the island of Nui during his expedition in search of Terra Australis. In 1819 the island of Funafuti was named Ellice's Island; the name Ellice was applied to all nine islands after the work of English hydrographer Alexander George Findlay. The islands came under Britain's sphere of influence in the late 19th century, when each of the Ellice Islands was declared a British Protectorate by Captain Gibson of HMS Curacoa between 9 and 16 October 1892. The Ellice Islands were administered as British protectorate by a Resident Commissioner from 1892 to 1916 as part of the British Western Pacific Territories (BWPT), and then as part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony from 1916 to 1974.
who was the first European to sail through the archipelago?
what is Tuvalu's population?
what are the Ellice islands now called?
what is Tuvalu’s land area?
How many neighbors are named?
Where is Tuvalu located?
Name one of its neighbors
what island was named Ellice’s island?
what were they apart of from 1916-1974?
when did they come fall under Britain’s influence?
who declared them a british protectorate?
Álvaro de Mendaña
 Álvaro de Mendaña
10,640
10,640
Tuvalu
Tuvalu
26 square kilometres
26 square kilometres
Four
Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Fij
in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia
 in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia
Kiribati
Kiribati
Funafuti
Funafuti
Britain's sphere of influence
Britain's sphere of influence 
19th century
 19th century
Captain Gibson of HMS Curacoa
 Captain Gibson of HMS Curacoa