Louisiade Archipelago
Map of Papua New Guinea
The Louisiade Archipelago is in the dark red area at the bottom of the map.
Geography
Coordinates11°12′S 153°00′E / 11.200°S 153.000°E / -11.200; 153.000
Total islands300+
Area1,871.1 km2 (722.4 sq mi)
Administration
ProvinceMilne Bay Province
Capital cityBwagaoia
Largest settlementBwagaoia (pop. 2680)
Demographics
Population47000 (2014)
Louisiade Archipelago
Moving westward from eastern end of the chain are the islands of Rossel and Vanatinai (Tagula). Misima Island, which harbors the largest village in the region, is obscured by a patch of clouds northeast of image center

The Louisiade Archipelago is a string of ten larger volcanic islands frequently fringed by coral reefs, and 90 smaller coral islands in Papua New Guinea.

It is located 200 km southeast of New Guinea, stretching over more than 160 kilometres (99 mi) and spread over an ocean area of 26,000 square kilometres (10,000 sq mi) between the Solomon Sea to the north and the Coral Sea to the south. The aggregate land area of the islands is about 1,871 square kilometres (722 sq mi), with Vanatinai (Tagula) being the largest.

Rogeia, Samarai and Sariba lie closest to New Guinea, while Misima, Vanatinai, and Rossel islands lie further east.

History

The islands were discovered by a Spanish expedition led by Luis Váez de Torres in 1606, that was part of the Fernandez de Quiros fleet which had sailed from South America in search of Australia. The Torres expedition visited various islands including Basilaki Island, which he named San Buenaventura in July 1606. It is possible that Malay and Chinese sailors also visited the islands earlier. More than a century later, in 1768, Louis Antoine de Bougainville visited the islands and named them for Louis XV, the king of France. Visits were also paid by Admiral Bruni d'Entrecasteaux in 1793 and Captain Owen Stanley in 1849.

The 1942 Battle of Coral Sea was fought nearby, after Japanese occupation in the same year. The Deboyne Islands were the site of the 1942 Raids on Deboyne.

Rain forests

The islands have a moist tropical climate, and are largely covered with tropical moist broadleaf forests. The Louisiade Archipelago rain forests form a distinct ecoregion, and are home to a number of endemic species, including several endemic trees (in genera Pandanus, Diospyros, and Hopea), as well as five endemic frog species, two endemic lizard species, and five endemic bird species.

Government

The archipelago is divided into the Local Level Government (LLG) areas Bwanabwana Rural (western part, with Basilaki), Louisiade Rural (central part, with Misima), and Yaleyamba (eastern part, with Rossell and Vanatinai islands). The LLG areas are part of Samarai-Murua District of Milne Bay. The seat of the Louisiade Rural LLG is Bwagaoia on Misima Island, the population center of the archipelago.[1] The seat of the Yaleyamba is changed every couple of years between Rambuso and Jingo (Rossell). The seat of the Bwanabwana was Samarai from the Louisiade archipelago, but was recently transferred to the mainland of Papua New Guinea to the city of Alotau.

Islands

The Louisiade Archipelago consists of the following island groups and islands:[2]

IslandCapitalOther CitiesArea (km²)Population
Bentley IslandsAnagusaNare2.49122
AnagusaAnagusa1.42112
MudgeNare1.0710
Bonvouloir Islands5.540
East2.930
Hastings1.260
Strathord1.350
Calvados ChainPana WinaMotorina, Bagaman, Hemenahei85.13276
BagamanBagaman7.45264
Bobo Eina2.430
Bonna Wan1.090
GigilaNogui1.42121
Gilia0.360
GulewaGulewa0.5918
Hemenahei10.150
KuwanakKuwanak3.66170
Mabneian0.380
MotorinaRiman BayTawara, Mabaraboraboa7.8595
NigahoNigaho0.1226
North Leiga0.050
OtherBurnettEhiki, Panua Keikeisa1.780
Pana Krusima1.470
Pana NumaraHoba Bay1.93183
Pana Rora0.810
Pana Udu Udi0.690
Pana Varavara0.570
Pana WinaBomalouPanambari, Boiama Point30.55456
Panangaribu0.50
Panasia2.110
Panatanian0.790
SabariHekampanTandeyai, Hebenahine, Maho4.04708
Sloss0.360
South Leiga0.050
Taifaur0.40
UlulinaUlulina0.595
UtianUtian1.54514
VenariwaVenariwa0.7616
Yakimoan0.310
Yaruman0.370
Conflict GroupPanasesaIrai, Lunn5.0630
Auriroa0.760
Gabugabutau0.120
Ginara0.140
IraiIrai1.0820
Itamarina0.040
Lunn0.510
Moniara0.20
OtherKolaviaMadiboiboi, Lutmatavi0.40
Panaboal0.520
Panarakuum0.510
PanasesaPanasesa0.6810
Quesal0.080
Tupit0.020
Deboyne IslandsBwaganatiNulia41.92700
Losai0.010
Nibub0.020
NivaniNivani0.520
Pana Uya Wana0.360
PanaeatiBwaganatiMaggiau, Palualual, Siakeu, Namati, Panakakamwa, Nulia Wharf, Lebwalebwal30.322080
PanapompomNuliaGalowawaisana, Panaewau7.72600
Passage0.060
Rara0.140
Duchateau Islands2.580
Jomard Islands0.960
Kukuluba0.320
Montemont Islands0.120
Pana Bobai Ana0.750
Pana Rura Wara0.420
Dumoulin Islands0.660
Ana Karu Karua0.20
Baiiri0.340
Duperre IslandsPunawan0.8210
Duperre0.150
PunawanPunawan0.4310
East Deboyne Islands1.020
Basses Group0.5150
Bushy Islets0.1050
Mabui0.0270
Pana Sagusagu0.1720
Redlick Islets0.20
Engineer IslandsSkeltonWatts11.121200
Bright0.070
Butchart0.090
Button0.070
Deedes0.110
Flat0.030
Good0.320
Haszard0.720
HummockTewatewa0.61105
Messum0.060
Pender0.120
Powell0.150
SkeltonNaruaruariKoialia, Waiaku, Digaigaia3.56375
SladeSamoaTubetube2.61245
WattsGegadaliTaeaknabululu, Kwaraiwa2.56475
Laseinie IslandsDawson2245
DawsonKoyagaugau1.36245
Hardman0.250
Kagawan0.050
Keaawan0.30
Misima IslandsBwagaoia21519330
Gigira0.030
Managun0.260
MisimaBwagaoiaBaimatana, Hinauta, Kaubwaga, Boiou, Siagara, Kalotawa, Gulewa, Mwana, Liak, Panataval, Bagilina, Manihuna, Ewena, Ebora, Bwagabwaga, Alhoga, Eaus, Gaibobo, Narian214.519330
Daloloia Group0.130
Pana Tinani IslandsBwailahinaKabagi-bagi99.921764
DaddahaiDadahai0.25834
Hevaisi0.2341
NimoaSoluwoBoiminusi, Woos, Galanga Beach3.556395
Osasai0.1330
Pana TinaniBwailahinaHobuk, Hauagili, Hessessai Bay, Buvara Bay, Bounce Point, Imadi Bay, Gawn Point, Hati Lawi Bay, Heihuti Bay, Bonawi Point78527
Sibumbum0.010
WanimBunbun1.66400
YeinaKabagi-bagiAraeda, Buwo, Jolandan16407
Renard IslandsKimuta4.3617
Baiwa0.170
KimutaAwaAtuatua2.86617
Manuga Reef0.020
Niva Beno0.490
Oreia0.470
Rossel IslandsRossel293.85100
Adele Islet0.180
Diama0.061
OtherHeron0.027
Pocklington Reef0.010
RosselJinjoDamunu, Yonga Bay, Mbuwo, Morpa, Wulunga Bay, Pum, Pwepwo, Piniga, Abeleti, Vyukwa, N’Jaru, Wale, Saman, Pambwa292.55000
WuleWule1.0392
Samarai IslandsSamaraiBasilaki262.18200
Arch IslandsNasa Rua Rua0.50
DoiniDoini4.0730
Tuyam0.160
GonubalabalaRanger station0.260
LogeaKasabanaluaKumikuku, Dabali, Pota9.021004
Deka Deka0.040
Bonarua Hili Hili0.050
KwatoKwatoIsuhina0.3566
SamaraiSamarai0.29460
EbumaEvennett Mansion0.0221
Gesila0.1719
Dagadaga0.071
Kwai Ama0.030
Beika0.020
GalahiGalahi0.9220
Lesimano0.210
IgwaliIgwaliNaba Riaria, Ga-Uri1.4710
KuiKui0.195
Ito3.0610
SaribaSiduduSauasauaga, Magehau, Sebuluna23.211880
SideiaSideiaOba, Gotai, Gadogadowa, Sekuku, Dulauna, Tegerauna101.31890
PopulaiMargaret Ville1.7115
Dinana0.90
BuiariWeitoa3.12500
BasilakiYokowaHabani1061883
Kitai Bai0.110
Kitai KatoaMaragum0.5517
Kitai Katu0.7210
Kitai Lilivea3190
Kitai Bona BonaKibou0.4210
Castori IsletsBaia Baia Karona0.180
Gado-Gadoa0.151
Wasima0.050
OtherSripkunui Island, Nasariri Island, Didigilo Island, Grant Island, Shortland Island0.80
Torlesse Islands2.080
Pananiu0.860
Tinolan0.80
Vanatinai IslandsRambusoTagula, Donuwo, Bololo831.63360
Boboa0.070
IyenIyen0.86102
Pana Man0.120
VanatinaiRambusoTagula, Eden, Mitin, Edwahi, Griffin Point, Tarangia, Lajamare, Donuwo, Siri Point, Buiawe, Bololo, Emeli, Pamela, Madaua, Jelewaga8303257
Venama0.550
Wari IslandsWari3.85926
Imbert0.220
Kosman ReefKosmanNabaina0.17100
Lebrun Islands0.220
Long ReefLejeune0.03100
Other0.150
Quessant0.410
Sable0.030
Siga0.010
Stuers Islands0.340
WariWari2.27726
Louisiade ArchipelagoBwagaoiaSamarai, Rossel1871.147000

See also

References

  1. http://www.pngec.gov.pg/ElectionInfo2007/PollSched-MilneBay.pdf%5B%5D
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-01-02. Retrieved 2006-01-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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