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Louisiade Archipelago

Coordinates: 11°12′S 153°00′E / 11.200°S 153.000°E / -11.200; 153.000
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Louisiade Archipelago
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Geography
Coordinates11°12′S 153°00′E / 11.200°S 153.000°E / -11.200; 153.000
Administration
Demographics
Population47000
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.

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]

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 Nasa Rua Rua 0.5 0
Doini Doini 4.07 30
Tuyam 0.16 0
Gonubalabala Ranger station 0.26 0
Logea Kasabanalua Kumikuku, Dabali, Pota 9.02 1004
Deka Deka 0.04 0
Bonarua Hili Hili 0.05 0
Kwato Kwato Isuhina 0.35 66
Samarai Samarai 0.29 460
Ebuma Evennett Mansion 0.022 1
Gesila 0.17 19
Dagadaga 0.07 1
Kwai Ama 0.03 0
Beika 0.02 0
Galahi Galahi 0.92 20
Lesimano 0.21 0
Igwali Igwali Naba Riaria, Ga-Uri 1.47 10
Kui Kui 0.19 5
Ito 3.06 10
Sariba Sidudu Sauasauaga, Magehau, Sebuluna 23.21 1880
Sideia Sideia Oba, Gotai, Gadogadowa, Sekuku, Dulauna, Tegerauna 101.3 1890
Populai Margaret Ville 1.71 15
Dinana 0.9 0
Buiari Weitoa 3.12 500
Basilaki Yokowa Habani 106 1883
Kitai Bai 0.11 0
Kitai Katoa Maragum 0.55 17
Kitai Katu 0.72 10
Kitai Lilivea 3 190
Kitai Bona Bona Kibou 0.42 10
Castori Islets Baia Baia Karona 0.18 0
Gado-Gadoa 0.15 1
Wasima 0.05 0
Other Sripkunui Island, Nasariri Island, Didigilo Island, Grant Island, Shortland Island 0.8 0
Torlesse Islands 2.08 0
Pananiu 0.86 0
Tinolan 0.8 0
Vanatinai Islands Rambuso Tagula, Donuwo, Bololo 831.6 3360
Boboa 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 0.55 0
Wari Islands Wari 3.85 926
Imbert 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 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 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

  • "Louisiade Archipelago" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 17 (11th ed.). 1911.
  • "Louisiade Archipelago rain forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
  • Milne Bay Province Polling list with place names (2007)
  • Eusoils.jrc.it: detailed geology/soils map (1:1.000.000)
  • Louisiades.net: Information and advice for yachts and travellers visiting the Louisiade Archipelago islands