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Eco-10: Louisiade Archipelago rain forests

Source: Wikipedia
Louisiade Archipelago
The Louisiade Archipelago is part of Milne Bay Province (in dark red)
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
Largest settlementBwagaoia on Misima Island (pop. 2680)
Demographics
Population47000 (2014)

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.[citation needed]

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.[citation needed]

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 Rossel 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.[citation needed]

Islands

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

IslandCapitalOther CitiesAreaPopulation
km2sq mi
Bentley IslandsAnagusaNare2.490.96122
AnagusaAnagusa1.420.55112
MudgeNare1.070.4110
Bonvouloir Islands5.542.140
East2.931.130
Hastings1.260.490
Strathord1.350.520
Calvados ChainPana WinaMotorina, Bagaman, Hemenahei85.132.93276
BagamanBagaman7.452.88264
Bobo Eina2.430.940
Bonna Wan1.090.420
GigilaNogui1.420.55121
Gilia0.360.140
GulewaGulewa0.590.2318
Hemenahei10.153.920
KuwanakKuwanak3.661.41170
Mabneian0.380.150
MotorinaRiman BayTawara, Mabaraboraboa7.83.0595
NigahoNigaho0.10.039226
North Leiga0.050.0190
OtherBurnettEhiki, Panua Keikeisa1.780.690
Pana Krusima1.470.570
Pana NumaraHoba Bay1.930.75183
Pana Rora0.810.310
Pana Udu Udi0.690.270
Pana Varavara0.570.220
Pana WinaBomalouPanambari, Boiama Point30.5511.80456
Panangaribu0.50.190
Panasia2.110.810
Panatanian0.790.310
SabariHekampanTandeyai, Hebenahine, Maho4.041.56708
Sloss0.360.140
South Leiga0.050.0190
Taifaur0.40.150
UlulinaUlulina0.590.235
UtianUtian1.540.59514
VenariwaVenariwa0.760.2916
Yakimoan0.310.120
Yaruman0.370.140
Conflict GroupPanasesaIrai, Lunn5.061.9530
Auriroa0.760.290
Gabugabutau0.120.0460
Ginara0.140.0540
IraiIrai1.080.4220
Itamarina0.040.0150
Lunn0.510.200
Moniara0.20.0770
OtherKolaviaMadiboiboi, Lutmatavi0.40.150
Panaboal0.520.200
Panarakuum0.510.200
PanasesaPanasesa0.680.2610
Quesal0.080.0310
Tupit0.020.00770
Deboyne IslandsBwaganatiNulia41.916.22700
Losai0.010.00390
Nibub0.020.00770
NivaniNivani0.50.1920
Pana Uya Wana0.360.140
PanaeatiBwaganatiMaggiau, Palualual, Siakeu, Namati, Panakakamwa, Nulia Wharf, Lebwalebwal30.3211.712080
PanapompomNuliaGalowawaisana, Panaewau7.722.98600
Passage0.060.0230
Rara0.140.0540
Duchateau Islands2.581.000
Jomard Islands0.960.370
Kukuluba0.320.120
Montemont Islands0.120.0460
Pana Bobai Ana0.750.290
Pana Rura Wara0.420.160
Dumoulin Islands0.660.250
Ana Karu Karua0.20.0770
Baiiri0.340.130
Duperre IslandsPunawan0.820.3210
Duperre0.150.0580
PunawanPunawan0.430.1710
East Deboyne Islands1.020.390
Basses Group0.510.2050
Bushy Islets0.100.03950
Mabui0.020.007770
Pana Sagusagu0.170.06620
Redlick Islets0.20.0770
Engineer IslandsSkeltonWatts11.124.291200
Bright0.070.0270
Butchart0.090.0350
Button0.070.0270
Deedes0.110.0420
Flat0.030.0120
Good0.320.120
Haszard0.720.280
HummockTewatewa0.610.24105
Messum0.060.0230
Pender0.120.0460
Powell0.150.0580
SkeltonNaruaruariKoialia, Waiaku, Digaigaia3.561.37375
SladeSamoaTubetube2.611.01245
WattsGegadaliTaeaknabululu, Kwaraiwa2.560.99475
Laseinie IslandsDawson20.77245
DawsonKoyagaugau1.360.53245
Hardman0.250.0970
Kagawan0.050.0190
Keaawan0.30.120
Misima IslandsBwagaoia2158319330
Gigira0.030.0120
Managun0.260.100
MisimaBwagaoiaBaimatana, Hinauta, Kaubwaga, Boiou, Siagara, Kalotawa, Gulewa, Mwana, Liak, Panataval, Bagilina, Manihuna, Ewena, Ebora, Bwagabwaga, Alhoga, Eaus, Gaibobo, Narian214.582.819330
Daloloia Group0.130.0500
Pana Tinani IslandsBwailahinaKabagi-bagi99.9238.581764
DaddahaiDadahai0.250.097834
Hevaisi0.230.08941
NimoaSoluwoBoiminusi, Woos, Galanga Beach3.551.376395
Osasai0.130.05030
Pana TinaniBwailahinaHobuk, Hauagili, Hessessai Bay, Buvara Bay, Bounce Point, Imadi Bay, Gawn Point, Hati Lawi Bay, Heihuti Bay, Bonawi Point7830527
Sibumbum0.010.00390
WanimBunbun1.660.64400
YeinaKabagi-bagiAraeda, Buwo, Jolandan166.2407
Renard IslandsKimuta4.31.7617
Baiwa0.170.0660
KimutaAwaAtuatua2.861.10617
Manuga Reef0.020.00770
Niva Beno0.490.190
Oreia0.470.180
Rossel IslandsRossel293.8113.45100
Adele Islet0.180.0690
Diama0.060.0231
OtherHeron0.020.00777
Pocklington Reef0.010.00390
RosselJinjoDamunu, Yonga Bay, Mbuwo, Morpa, Wulunga Bay, Pum, Pwepwo, Piniga, Abeleti, Vyukwa, N’Jaru, Wale, Saman, Pambwa292.5112.95000
WuleWule1.030.4092
Samarai IslandsSamaraiBasilaki262.1101.28200
Arch IslandsNasa Rua Rua0.50.190
DoiniDoini4.071.5730
Tuyam0.160.0620
GonubalabalaRanger station0.260.100
LogeaKasabanaluaKumikuku, Dabali, Pota9.023.481004
Deka Deka0.040.0150
Bonarua Hili Hili0.050.0190
KwatoKwatoIsuhina0.350.1466
SamaraiSamarai0.290.11460
EbumaEvennett Mansion0.020.007721
Gesila0.170.06619
Dagadaga0.070.0271
Kwai Ama0.030.0120
Beika0.020.00770
GalahiGalahi0.920.3620
Lesimano0.210.0810
IgwaliIgwaliNaba Riaria, Ga-Uri1.470.5710
KuiKui0.190.0735
Ito3.061.1810
SaribaSiduduSauasauaga, Magehau, Sebuluna23.218.961880
SideiaSideiaOba, Gotai, Gadogadowa, Sekuku, Dulauna, Tegerauna101.339.11890
PopulaiMargaret Ville1.710.6615
Dinana0.90.350
BuiariWeitoa3.121.20500
BasilakiYokowaHabani106411883
Kitai Bai0.110.0420
Kitai KatoaMaragum0.550.2117
Kitai Katu0.720.2810
Kitai Lilivea31.2190
Kitai Bona BonaKibou0.420.1610
Castori IsletsBaia Baia Karona0.180.0690
Gado-Gadoa0.150.0581
Wasima0.050.0190
OtherSripkunui Island, Nasariri Island, Didigilo Island, Grant Island, Shortland Island0.80.310
Torlesse Islands2.080.800
Pananiu0.860.330
Tinolan0.80.310
Vanatinai IslandsRambusoTagula, Donuwo, Bololo831.6321.13360
Boboa0.070.0270
IyenIyen0.860.33102
Pana Man0.120.0460
VanatinaiRambusoTagula, Eden, Mitin, Edwahi, Griffin Point, Tarangia, Lajamare, Donuwo, Siri Point, Buiawe, Bololo, Emeli, Pamela, Madaua, Jelewaga8303203257
Venama0.550.210
Wari IslandsWari3.851.49926
Imbert0.220.0850
Kosman ReefKosmanNabaina0.170.066100
Lebrun Islands0.220.0850
Long ReefLejeune0.030.012100
Other0.150.0580
Quessant0.410.160
Sable0.030.0120
Siga0.010.00390
Stuers Islands0.340.130
WariWari2.270.88726
Louisiade ArchipelagoBwagaoiaSamarai, Rossel1,871.1722.447000

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)

External links