Louisiade Archipelago

Louisiade Archipelago

Map of Papua New Guinea. The Louisiade Archipelago is in the dark red area at the bottom of the map
Geography
Coordinates 11°12′S 153°00′E / 11.200°S 153.000°E / -11.200; 153.000Coordinates: 11°12′S 153°00′E / 11.200°S 153.000°E / -11.200; 153.000
Total islands 300+
Area 1,871.1 km2 (722.4 sq mi)
Administration
Province Milne Bay Province
Capital city Bwagaoia
Largest settlement Bwagaoia (pop. 2680)
Demographics
Population 47000 (as of 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 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.

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]

Island Capital Other Cities Area (km²) Population
Bentley Islands Anagusa Nare 2.49122
Anagusa Anagusa 1.42112
Mudge Nare 1.0710
Bonvouloir Islands 5.540
East 2.930
Hastings 1.260
Strathord 1.350
Calvados Chain Pana Wina Motorina, Bagaman, Hemenahei 85.13276
Bagaman Bagaman 7.45264
Bobo Eina 2.430
Bonna Wan 1.090
Gigila Nogui 1.42121
Gilia 0.360
Gulewa Gulewa 0.5918
Hemenahei 10.150
Kuwanak Kuwanak 3.66170
Mabneian 0.380
Motorina Riman Bay Tawara, Mabaraboraboa 7.8595
Nigaho Nigaho 0.1226
North Leiga 0.050
Other Burnett Ehiki, Panua Keikeisa 1.780
Pana Krusima 1.470
Pana Numara Hoba Bay 1.93183
Pana Rora 0.810
Pana Udu Udi 0.690
Pana Varavara 0.570
Pana Wina Bomalou Panambari, Boiama Point 30.55456
Panangaribu 0.50
Panasia 2.110
Panatanian 0.790
Sabari Hekampan Tandeyai, Hebenahine, Maho 4.04708
Sloss 0.360
South Leiga 0.050
Taifaur 0.40
Ululina Ululina 0.595
Utian Utian 1.54514
Venariwa Venariwa 0.7616
Yakimoan 0.310
Yaruman 0.370
Conflict Group Panasesa Irai, Lunn 5.0630
Auriora 0.760
Gabugabutau 0.120
Ginara 0.140
Irai Irai 1.0820
Itamarina 0.040
Lunn 0.510
Moniara 0.20
Other KolaviaMadiboiboi, Lutmatavi0.40
Panaboal 0.520
Panarakum 0.510
Panasesa Panasesa 0.6810
Quesal 0.080
Tupit 0.020
Deboyne Islands Bwaganati Nulia 41.92700
Losai 0.010
Nibub 0.020
Nivani Nivani 0.520
Pana Uya Wana 0.360
Panaeati Bwaganati Maggiau, Palualual, Siakeu, Namati, Panakakamwa, Nulia Wharf, Lebwalebwal 30.322080
Panapompom Nulia Galowawaisana, Panaewau 7.72600
Passage 0.060
Rara 0.140
Duchateau Islands 2.580
Jomard Islands 0.960
Kukuluba 0.320
Montemont Islands 0.120
Pana Bobai Ana 0.750
Pana Rura Wara 0.420
Dumoulin Islands 0.660
Ana Karu Karua 0.20
Baiiri 0.340
Duperre Islands Punawan 0.8210
Duperre 0.150
Punawan Punawan 0.4310
East Deboyne Islands 1.020
Basses Group 0.5150
Bushy Islets 0.1050
Mabui 0.0270
Pana Sagusagu 0.1720
Redlick Islets 0.20
Engineer Islands Skelton Watts 11.121200
Bright 0.070
Butchart 0.090
Button 0.070
Deedes 0.110
Flat 0.030
Good 0.320
Haszard 0.720
Hummock Tewatewa 0.61105
Messum 0.060
Pender 0.120
Powell 0.150
Skelton Naruaruari Koialia, Waiaku, Digaigaia 3.56375
Slade SamoaTubetube 2.61245
Watts Gegadali Taeaknabululu, Kwaraiwa 2.56475
Laseinie Islands Dawson 2245
Dawson Koyagaugau 1.36245
Hardman 0.250
Kagawan 0.050
Keaawan 0.30
Misima Islands Bwagaoia 21519330
Gigira 0.030
Managun 0.260
Misima Bwagaoia Baimatana, Hinauta, Kaubwaga, Boiou, Siagara, Kalotawa, Gulewa, Mwana, Liak, Panataval, Bagilina, Manihuna, Ewena, Ebora, Bwagabwaga, Alhoga, Eaus, Gaibobo, Narian 214.519330
Daloloia Group 0.130
Pana Tinani Islands Bwailahina Kabagi-bagi 99.921764
Daddahai Dadahai 0.25834
Hevaisi 0.2341
Nimoa Soluwo Boiminusi, Woos, Galanga Beach 3.556395
Osasai 0.1330
Pana Tinani Bwailahina Hobuk, Hauagili, Hessessai Bay, Buvara Bay, Bounce Point, Imadi Bay, Gawn Point, Hati Lawi Bay, Heihuti Bay, Bonawi Point 78527
Sibumbum 0.010
Wanim Bunbun 1.66400
Yeina Kabagi-bagi Araeda, Buwo, Jolandan 16407
Renard Islands Kimuta 4.3617
Baiwa 0.170
Kimuta Awa Atuatua 2.86617
Manuga Reef 0.020
Niva Beno 0.490
Oreia 0.470
Rossel Islands Rossel 293.85100
Adele Islet 0.180
Diama 0.061
Other Heron 0.027
Pocklington Reef 0.010
Rossel Jinjo Damunu, Yonga Bay, Mbuwo, Morpa, Wulunga Bay, Pum, Pwepwo, Piniga, Abeleti, Vyukwa, N’Jaru, Wale, Saman, Pambwa 292.55000
Wule Wule 1.0392
Samarai Islands Samarai Basilaki 262.18200
Arch Islands Nasa Rua Rua 0.50
Doini Doini 4.0730
Tuyam 0.160
Gonubalabala Ranger station 0.260
Logea Kasabanalua Kumikuku, Dabali, Pota 9.021004
Deka Deka 0.040
Bonarua Hili Hili 0.050
Kwato Kwato Isuhina 0.3566
Samarai Samarai 0.29460
Ebuma Evennett Mansion 0.0221
Gesila 0.1719
Dagadaga 0.071
Kwai Ama 0.030
Beika 0.020
Galahi Galahi 0.9220
Lesimano 0.210
Igwali Igwali Naba Riaria, Ga-Uri1.4710
Kui Kui 0.195
Ito 3.0610
Sariba Sidudu Sauasauaga, Magehau, Sebuluna 23.211880
Sideia Sideia Oba, Gotai, Gadogadowa, Sekuku, Dulauna, Tegerauna 101.31890
Populai Margaret Ville 1.7115
Dinana 0.90
Buiari Weitoa 3.12500
Basilaki YokowaHabani 1061883
Kitai Bai 0.110
Kitai Katoa Maragum 0.5517
Kitai Katu 0.7210
Kitai Lilivea 3190
Kitai Bona Bona Kibou 0.4210
Castori IsletsBaia Baia Karona 0.180
Gado-Gadoa 0.151
Wasima 0.050
Other Sripkunui Island, Nasariri Island, Didigilo Island, Grant Island, Shortland Island 0.80
Torlesse Islands 2.080
Pananiu 0.860
Tinolan 0.80
Vanatinai Islands Rambuso Tagula, Donuwo, Bololo 831.63360
Boboa 0.070
Iyen Iyen 0.86102
Pana Man 0.120
Vanatinai Rambuso Tagula, Eden, Mitin, Edwahi, Griffin Point, Tarangia, Lajamare, Donuwo, Siri Point, Buiawe, Bololo, Emeli, Pamela, Madaua, Jelewaga 8303257
Venama 0.550
Wari Islands Wari 3.85926
Imbert 0.220
Kosman Reef Kosman Nabaina 0.17100
Lebrun Islands 0.220
Long Reef Lejeune 0.03100
Other 0.150
Quessant 0.410
Sable 0.030
Siga 0.010
Stuers Islands 0.340
Wari Wari 2.27726
Louisiade Archipelago Bwagaoia Samarai, Rossel 1871.147000

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.

References

External links

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