A self-governing overseas territory (territoire d'outre-mer) of France, the Wallis and Futuna {wahl'-is, foo-too'-nah} Islands are two groups of islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, between Fiji and the Samoas. Lying about 300 km (190 mi.) west of the Samoa archipelago, the Wallis group consists of the main island of Uvea (Wallis) and more than 20 surrounding islets called Motu, scattered in the lagoon and the coral reef surrounding the island. Mata-Utu, the capital and principal city of the territory, is located on Uvea. The terrain is of volcanic origin with low hills .Many lakes (such as the spectacular Lake Lalolalo) are found in the ancient volcanos. While its territorial waters extend to 12 nm (nautical miles), Wallis claims an exclusive maritime economic zone of 200 nm. The Futuna group, sometimes identified as the Hoorn Islands (Îles de Horne), consists of the two islands of Alofi (uninhabited) and Futuna, which lie approximately 225 km (140 mi.) southwest of the Wallis group. Unlike Alofi, Futuna has no coral reef or lagoon. The archipelago is mountainous, of Tertiary (much more ancient) volcanic origin, and is situated directly on the zone of contact between the Pacific and Indo-Australian plates. Thus, Futuna is subjected to periodic earthquakes, the most recent occurring in March of 1993. Crops are grown there by the inhabitants of the eastern part of Futuna. Neither Uvea nor Alofi have any permanent streams, unlike Futuna which has many small creeks flowing down the hills in deep gorges.