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
2.49
122
Anagusa
Anagusa
1.42
112
Mudge
Nare
1.07
10
Bonvouloir Islands
5.54
0
East
2.93
0
Hastings
1.26
0
Strathord
1.35
0
Calvados Chain
Pana Wina
Motorina , Bagaman , Hemenahei
85.1
3276
Bagaman
Bagaman
7.45
264
Bobo Eina
2.43
0
Bonna Wan
1.09
0
Gigila
Nogui
1.42
121
Gilia
0.36
0
Gulewa
Gulewa
0.59
18
Hemenahei
10.15
0
Kuwanak
Kuwanak
3.66
170
Mabneian
0.38
0
Motorina
Riman Bay
Tawara , Mabaraboraboa
7.8
595
Nigaho
Nigaho
0.1
226
North Leiga
0.05
0
Other
Burnett
Ehiki, Panua Keikeisa
1.78
0
Pana Krusima
1.47
0
Pana Numara
Hoba Bay
1.93
183
Pana Rora
0.81
0
Pana Udu Udi
0.69
0
Pana Varavara
0.57
0
Pana Wina
Bomalou
Panambari , Boiama Point
30.55
456
Panangaribu
0.5
0
Panasia
2.11
0
Panatanian
0.79
0
Sabari
Hekampan
Tandeyai , Hebenahine , Maho
4.04
708
Sloss
0.36
0
South Leiga
0.05
0
Taifaur
0.4
0
Ululina
Ululina
0.59
5
Utian
Utian
1.54
514
Venariwa
Venariwa
0.76
16
Yakimoan
0.31
0
Yaruman
0.37
0
Conflict Group
Panasesa
Irai , Lunn
5.06
30
Auriora
0.76
0
Gabugabutau
0.12
0
Ginara
0.14
0
Irai
Irai
1.08
20
Itamarina
0.04
0
Lunn
0.51
0
Moniara
0.2
0
Other
Kolavia
Madiboiboi, Lutmatavi
0.4
0
Panaboal
0.52
0
Panarakum
0.51
0
Panasesa
Panasesa
0.68
10
Quesal
0.08
0
Tupit
0.02
0
Deboyne Islands
Bwaganati
Nulia
41.9
2700
Losai
0.01
0
Nibub
0.02
0
Nivani
Nivani
0.5
20
Pana Uya Wana
0.36
0
Panaeati
Bwaganati
Maggiau , Palualual , Siakeu , Namati , Panakakamwa , Nulia Wharf , Lebwalebwal
30.32
2080
Panapompom
Nulia
Galowawaisana , Panaewau
7.72
600
Passage
0.06
0
Rara
0.14
0
Duchateau Islands
2.58
0
Jomard Islands
0.96
0
Kukuluba
0.32
0
Montemont Islands
0.12
0
Pana Bobai Ana
0.75
0
Pana Rura Wara
0.42
0
Dumoulin Islands
0.66
0
Ana Karu Karua
0.2
0
Baiiri
0.34
0
Duperre Islands
Punawan
0.82
10
Duperre
0.15
0
Punawan
Punawan
0.43
10
East Deboyne Islands
1.02
0
Basses Group
0.515
0
Bushy Islets
0.105
0
Mabui
0.027
0
Pana Sagusagu
0.172
0
Redlick Islets
0.2
0
Engineer Islands
Skelton
Watts
11.12
1200
Bright
0.07
0
Butchart
0.09
0
Button
0.07
0
Deedes
0.11
0
Flat
0.03
0
Good
0.32
0
Haszard
0.72
0
Hummock
Tewatewa
0.61
105
Messum
0.06
0
Pender
0.12
0
Powell
0.15
0
Skelton
Naruaruari
Koialia, Waiaku, Digaigaia
3.56
375
Slade
Samoa
Tubetube
2.61
245
Watts
Gegadali
Taeaknabululu, Kwaraiwa
2.56
475
Laseinie Islands
Dawson
2
245
Dawson
Koyagaugau
1.36
245
Hardman
0.25
0
Kagawan
0.05
0
Keaawan
0.3
0
Misima Islands
Bwagaoia
215
19330
Gigira
0.03
0
Managun
0.26
0
Misima
Bwagaoia
Baimatana , Hinauta , Kaubwaga , Boiou , Siagara , Kalotawa , Gulewa , Mwana , Liak , Panataval , Bagilina , Manihuna , Ewena , Ebora , Bwagabwaga , Alhoga , Eaus , Gaibobo , Narian
214.5
19330
Daloloia Group
0.13
0
Pana Tinani Islands
Bwailahina
Kabagi-bagi
99.92
1764
Daddahai
Dadahai
0.258
34
Hevaisi
0.234
1
Nimoa
Soluwo
Boiminusi , Woos , Galanga Beach
3.556
395
Osasai
0.133
0
Pana Tinani
Bwailahina
Hobuk , Hauagili , Hessessai Bay , Buvara Bay , Bounce Point , Imadi Bay , Gawn Point , Hati Lawi Bay , Heihuti Bay , Bonawi Point
78
527
Sibumbum
0.01
0
Wanim
Bunbun
1.66
400
Yeina
Kabagi-bagi
Araeda , Buwo , Jolandan
16
407
Renard Islands
Kimuta
4.3
617
Baiwa
0.17
0
Kimuta
Awa
Atuatua
2.86
617
Manuga Reef
0.02
0
Niva Beno
0.49
0
Oreia
0.47
0
Rossel Islands
Rossel
293.8
5100
Adele Islet
0.18
0
Diama
0.06
1
Other
Heron
0.02
7
Pocklington Reef
0.01
0
Rossel
Jinjo
Damunu , Yonga Bay , Mbuwo , Morpa , Wulunga Bay , Pum , Pwepwo , Piniga , Abeleti , Vyukwa , N’Jaru , Wale , Saman, Pambwa
292.5
5000
Wule
Wule
1.03
92
Samarai Islands
Samarai
Basilaki
262.1
8200
Arch Islands
0.31
0
Baba Garai
0.12
0
Baia Baia Karona
0.18
0
Basilaki [ 3]
Hakalihi
Bogala , Gaiogaiokawasi , Baiaule , Hilomai , Gelahamutuna , Halahalawuwu , Wetoa , Habani , Towine , Hiliki , Bedauna , Mwahui , Taladio , Agarauna , Dahidahina , Pihigole , Doba, Tanubuibuina , Hamama, Duiauna , Gogolabia
106
1607
Beika Island
0.02
0
Buiari Island
Weitoa
3.2
480
Dagadaga Island
0.07
1
Deka Deka Islands
0.04
0
Doini Island
Doini
4.07
30
Eboma Island
0.022
1
Gado-Gadoa Island
0.15
1
Garahi Island
Garahi
0.92
10
Gesila Island
0.17
0
Gonabarabara
0.26
2
Haines Island
0.72
0
Iguari Islands
1.76
0
Ito Island
3.06
1
Kaiti Island
3
211
Kato Katoa Island
0.55
1
Kitai Bona Bona Island
0.42
1
Kwai Ama Island
0.03
0
Kwato Island
Kwato
Isuhina Beach
0.35
93
Kwaui Island
0.21
0
Logea Island
0.05
1
Other
Tuyam Island
Sripkunui Island , Nasariri Island , Didigilo Island , Grant Island , Shortland Island
0.838
964
Populai Island
Margaret Ville
1.71
15
Rogeia Island
Kasabanalua
Kumikuku , Dabali , Banaria Bay , Pata Bay
9.02
1140
Samarai Island
Samarai
0.29
706
Sariba Island
Sidudu
Magalkalona , Magehau , Kwalosai , Namoai Bay , Sauasauaga , Labu Labu , Tanabuibuina , Sabuiona , Nawaripa , Wakoiaia
23.21
1670
Sideia Island
Sideia
Oba Bay , Kunubalia , Makabweabweau , Tabuara , Liliki , Kalu, Gotai , Wanahaua , Gugui , Balaga Bay , Duiaona , Boikalakalawa Bay , Kubi , Waiyau Bay , Goteia , Tegerauna
101.3
1265
Wasima Island
0.05
0
Torlesse Islands
2.08
0
Pananiu
0.86
0
Tinolan
0.8
0
Vanatinai Islands
Rambuso
Tagula , Donuwo , Bololo
831.6
3360
Boboa Island
0.07
0
Iyen
Iyen
0.86
102
Pana Man
0.12
0
Vanatinai
Rambuso
Tagula , Eden, Mitin , Edwahi , Griffin Point , Tarangia , Lajamare , Donuwo , Siri Point , Buiawe , Bololo , Emeli , Pamela, Madaua , Jelewaga
830
3257
Venama Island
0.55
0
Wari Islands
Wari
3.85
926
Imbert Island
0.22
0
Kosman Reef
Kosman
Nabaina
0.17
100
Lebrun Islands
0.22
0
Long Reef
Lejeune
0.03
100
Other
0.15
0
Quessant
0.41
0
Sable Islands
0.03
0
Siga
0.01
0
Stuers Islands
0.34
0
Wari
Wari
2.27
726
Louisiade Archipelago
Bwagaoia
Samarai , Rossel
1871.1
47000
History
The islands were most likely observed by Luis Váez de Torres in 1606, but Malay and Chinese sailors may have visited the islands earlier. Louis Antoine de Bougainville named them in 1768 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