Eco-10: Louisiade Archipelago rain forests 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 ,Hopea 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]
Island Capital Other Cities Area Population km2 sq mi Bentley Islands Anagusa Nare 2.49 0.96 122 Anagusa Anagusa 1.42 0.55 112 Mudge Nare 1.07 0.41 10 Bonvouloir Islands 5.54 2.14 0 East 2.93 1.13 0 Hastings 1.26 0.49 0 Strathord 1.35 0.52 0 Calvados Chain Pana Wina Motorina , Bagaman , Hemenahei 85.1 32.9 3276 Bagaman Bagaman 7.45 2.88 264 Bobo Eina 2.43 0.94 0 Bonna Wan 1.09 0.42 0 Gigila Nogui 1.42 0.55 121 Gilia 0.36 0.14 0 Gulewa Gulewa 0.59 0.23 18 Hemenahei 10.15 3.92 0 Kuwanak Kuwanak 3.66 1.41 170 Mabneian 0.38 0.15 0 Motorina Riman Bay Tawara , Mabaraboraboa 7.8 3.0 595 Nigaho Nigaho 0.1 0.039 226 North Leiga 0.05 0.019 0 Other Burnett Ehiki, Panua Keikeisa 1.78 0.69 0 Pana Krusima 1.47 0.57 0 Pana Numara Hoba Bay 1.93 0.75 183 Pana Rora 0.81 0.31 0 Pana Udu Udi 0.69 0.27 0 Pana Varavara 0.57 0.22 0 Pana Wina Bomalou Panambari , Boiama Point 30.55 11.80 456 Panangaribu 0.5 0.19 0 Panasia 2.11 0.81 0 Panatanian 0.79 0.31 0 Sabari Hekampan Tandeyai , Hebenahine , Maho 4.04 1.56 708 Sloss 0.36 0.14 0 South Leiga 0.05 0.019 0 Taifaur 0.4 0.15 0 Ululina Ululina 0.59 0.23 5 Utian Utian 1.54 0.59 514 Venariwa Venariwa 0.76 0.29 16 Yakimoan 0.31 0.12 0 Yaruman 0.37 0.14 0 Conflict Group Panasesa Irai , Lunn 5.06 1.95 30 Auriroa 0.76 0.29 0 Gabugabutau 0.12 0.046 0 Ginara 0.14 0.054 0 Irai Irai 1.08 0.42 20 Itamarina 0.04 0.015 0 Lunn 0.51 0.20 0 Moniara 0.2 0.077 0 Other Kolavia Madiboiboi, Lutmatavi 0.4 0.15 0 Panaboal 0.52 0.20 0 Panarakuum 0.51 0.20 0 Panasesa Panasesa 0.68 0.26 10 Quesal 0.08 0.031 0 Tupit 0.02 0.0077 0 Deboyne Islands Bwaganati Nulia 41.9 16.2 2700 Losai 0.01 0.0039 0 Nibub 0.02 0.0077 0 Nivani Nivani 0.5 0.19 20 Pana Uya Wana 0.36 0.14 0 Panaeati Bwaganati Maggiau , Palualual , Siakeu , Namati , Panakakamwa , Nulia Wharf , Lebwalebwal 30.32 11.71 2080 Panapompom Nulia Galowawaisana , Panaewau 7.72 2.98 600 Passage 0.06 0.023 0 Rara 0.14 0.054 0 Duchateau Islands 2.58 1.00 0 Jomard Islands 0.96 0.37 0 Kukuluba 0.32 0.12 0 Montemont Islands 0.12 0.046 0 Pana Bobai Ana 0.75 0.29 0 Pana Rura Wara 0.42 0.16 0 Dumoulin Islands 0.66 0.25 0 Ana Karu Karua 0.2 0.077 0 Baiiri 0.34 0.13 0 Duperre Islands Punawan 0.82 0.32 10 Duperre 0.15 0.058 0 Punawan Punawan 0.43 0.17 10 East Deboyne Islands 1.02 0.39 0 Basses Group 0.51 0.205 0 Bushy Islets 0.10 0.0395 0 Mabui 0.02 0.00777 0 Pana Sagusagu 0.17 0.0662 0 Redlick Islets 0.2 0.077 0 Engineer Islands Skelton Watts 11.12 4.29 1200 Bright 0.07 0.027 0 Butchart 0.09 0.035 0 Button 0.07 0.027 0 Deedes 0.11 0.042 0 Flat 0.03 0.012 0 Good 0.32 0.12 0 Haszard 0.72 0.28 0 Hummock Tewatewa 0.61 0.24 105 Messum 0.06 0.023 0 Pender 0.12 0.046 0 Powell 0.15 0.058 0 Skelton Naruaruari Koialia, Waiaku, Digaigaia 3.56 1.37 375 Slade Samoa Tubetube 2.61 1.01 245 Watts Gegadali Taeaknabululu, Kwaraiwa 2.56 0.99 475 Laseinie Islands Dawson 2 0.77 245 Dawson Koyagaugau 1.36 0.53 245 Hardman 0.25 0.097 0 Kagawan 0.05 0.019 0 Keaawan 0.3 0.12 0 Misima Islands Bwagaoia 215 83 19330 Gigira 0.03 0.012 0 Managun 0.26 0.10 0 Misima Bwagaoia Baimatana , Hinauta , Kaubwaga , Boiou , Siagara , Kalotawa , Gulewa , Mwana , Liak , Panataval , Bagilina , Manihuna , Ewena , Ebora , Bwagabwaga , Alhoga , Eaus , Gaibobo , Narian 214.5 82.8 19330 Daloloia Group 0.13 0.050 0 Pana Tinani Islands Bwailahina Kabagi-bagi 99.92 38.58 1764 Daddahai Dadahai 0.25 0.0978 34 Hevaisi 0.23 0.0894 1 Nimoa Soluwo Boiminusi , Woos , Galanga Beach 3.55 1.376 395 Osasai 0.13 0.0503 0 Pana Tinani Bwailahina Hobuk , Hauagili , Hessessai Bay , Buvara Bay , Bounce Point , Imadi Bay , Gawn Point , Hati Lawi Bay , Heihuti Bay , Bonawi Point 78 30 527 Sibumbum 0.01 0.0039 0 Wanim Bunbun 1.66 0.64 400 Yeina Kabagi-bagi Araeda , Buwo , Jolandan 16 6.2 407 Renard Islands Kimuta 4.3 1.7 617 Baiwa 0.17 0.066 0 Kimuta Awa Atuatua 2.86 1.10 617 Manuga Reef 0.02 0.0077 0 Niva Beno 0.49 0.19 0 Oreia 0.47 0.18 0 Rossel Islands Rossel 293.8 113.4 5100 Adele Islet 0.18 0.069 0 Diama 0.06 0.023 1 Other Heron 0.02 0.0077 7 Pocklington Reef 0.01 0.0039 0 Rossel Jinjo Damunu , Yonga Bay , Mbuwo , Morpa , Wulunga Bay , Pum , Pwepwo , Piniga , Abeleti , Vyukwa , N’Jaru , Wale, Saman, Pambwa 292.5 112.9 5000 Wule Wule 1.03 0.40 92 Samarai Islands Samarai Basilaki 262.1 101.2 8200 Arch Islands Nasa Rua Rua 0.5 0.19 0 Doini Doini 4.07 1.57 30 Tuyam 0.16 0.062 0 Gonubalabala Ranger station 0.26 0.10 0 Logea Kasabanalua Kumikuku , Dabali , Pota 9.02 3.48 1004 Deka Deka 0.04 0.015 0 Bonarua Hili Hili 0.05 0.019 0 Kwato Kwato Isuhina 0.35 0.14 66 Samarai Samarai 0.29 0.11 460 Ebuma Evennett Mansion 0.02 0.00772 1 Gesila 0.17 0.066 19 Dagadaga 0.07 0.027 1 Kwai Ama 0.03 0.012 0 Beika 0.02 0.0077 0 Galahi Galahi 0.92 0.36 20 Lesimano 0.21 0.081 0 Igwali Igwali Naba Riaria, Ga-Uri 1.47 0.57 10 Kui Kui 0.19 0.073 5 Ito 3.06 1.18 10 Sariba Sidudu Sauasauaga , Magehau , Sebuluna 23.21 8.96 1880 Sideia Sideia Oba, Gotai, Gadogadowa, Sekuku, Dulauna, Tegerauna 101.3 39.1 1890 Populai Margaret Ville 1.71 0.66 15 Dinana 0.9 0.35 0 Buiari Weitoa 3.12 1.20 500 Basilaki Yokowa Habani 106 41 1883 Kitai Bai 0.11 0.042 0 Kitai Katoa Maragum 0.55 0.21 17 Kitai Katu 0.72 0.28 10 Kitai Lilivea 3 1.2 190 Kitai Bona Bona Kibou 0.42 0.16 10 Castori Islets Baia Baia Karona 0.18 0.069 0 Gado-Gadoa 0.15 0.058 1 Wasima 0.05 0.019 0 Other Sripkunui Island , Nasariri Island , Didigilo Island , Grant Island , Shortland Island 0.8 0.31 0 Torlesse Islands 2.08 0.80 0 Pananiu 0.86 0.33 0 Tinolan 0.8 0.31 0 Vanatinai Islands Rambuso Tagula , Donuwo , Bololo 831.6 321.1 3360 Boboa 0.07 0.027 0 Iyen Iyen 0.86 0.33 102 Pana Man 0.12 0.046 0 Vanatinai Rambuso Tagula , Eden, Mitin , Edwahi , Griffin Point , Tarangia , Lajamare , Donuwo , Siri Point , Buiawe , Bololo , Emeli , Pamela, Madaua , Jelewaga 830 320 3257 Venama 0.55 0.21 0 Wari Islands Wari 3.85 1.49 926 Imbert 0.22 0.085 0 Kosman Reef Kosman Nabaina 0.17 0.066 100 Lebrun Islands 0.22 0.085 0 Long Reef Lejeune 0.03 0.012 100 Other 0.15 0.058 0 Quessant 0.41 0.16 0 Sable 0.03 0.012 0 Siga 0.01 0.0039 0 Stuers Islands 0.34 0.13 0 Wari Wari 2.27 0.88 726 Louisiade Archipelago Bwagaoia Samarai , Rossel1,871.1 722.4 47000
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