Louisiade Archipelago

File:Louisiade archipelago.jpg

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 Template:Convert and spread over an ocean area of Template:Convert between the Solomon Sea to the north and the Coral Sea to the south. The aggregate land area of the islands is about Template:Convert, with Vanatinai (Sudest) 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.Template:Cn

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.Template:Cn

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.<ref>http://www.pngec.gov.pg/ElectionInfo2007/PollSched-MilneBay.pdfTemplate:Dead link</ref> 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.Template:Cn

Islands

The Louisiade Archipelago consists of the following island groups and islands:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Island	Capital	Other Cities	Area		Population
			km2	sq mi
Bentley Islands	Anagusa	Nare	Template:Convert	122
Anagusa	Anagusa		Template:Convert	112
Mudge	Nare		Template:Convert	10
Bonvouloir Islands			Template:Convert	0
East			Template:Convert	0
Hastings			Template:Convert	0
Strathord			Template:Convert	0
Calvados Chain	Pana Wina	Motorina, Bagaman, Hemenahei	Template:Convert	3276
Bagaman	Bagaman		Template:Convert	264
Bobo Eina			Template:Convert	0
Bonna Wan			Template:Convert	0
Gigila	Nogui		Template:Convert	121
Gilia			Template:Convert	0
Gulewa	Gulewa		Template:Convert	18
Hemenahei			Template:Convert	0
Kuwanak	Kuwanak		Template:Convert	170
Mabneian			Template:Convert	0
Motorina	Riman Bay	Tawara, Mabaraboraboa	Template:Convert	595
Nigaho	Nigaho		Template:Convert	226
North Leiga			Template:Convert	0
Other	Burnett	Ehiki, Panua Keikeisa	Template:Convert	0
Pana Krusima			Template:Convert	0
Pana Numara	Hoba Bay		Template:Convert	183
Pana Rora			Template:Convert	0
Pana Udu Udi			Template:Convert	0
Pana Varavara			Template:Convert	0
Pana Wina	Bomalou	Panambari, Boiama Point	Template:Convert	456
Panangaribu			Template:Convert	0
Panasia			Template:Convert	0
Panatanian			Template:Convert	0
Sabari	Hekampan	Tandeyai, Hebenahine, Maho	Template:Convert	708
Sloss			Template:Convert	0
South Leiga			Template:Convert	0
Taifaur			Template:Convert	0
Ululina	Ululina		Template:Convert	5
Utian	Utian		Template:Convert	514
Venariwa	Venariwa		Template:Convert	16
Yakimoan			Template:Convert	0
Yaruman			Template:Convert	0
Conflict Group	Panasesa	Irai, Lunn	Template:Convert	30
Auriroa			Template:Convert	0
Gabugabutau			Template:Convert	0
Ginara			Template:Convert	0
Irai	Irai		Template:Convert	20
Itamarina			Template:Convert	0
Lunn			Template:Convert	0
Moniara			Template:Convert	0
Other	Kolavia	Madiboiboi, Lutmatavi	Template:Convert	0
Panaboal			Template:Convert	0
Panarakuum			Template:Convert	0
Panasesa	Panasesa		Template:Convert	10
Quesal			Template:Convert	0
Tupit			Template:Convert	0
Deboyne Islands	Bwaganati	Nulia	Template:Convert	2700
Losai			Template:Convert	0
Nibub			Template:Convert	0
Nivani	Nivani		Template:Convert	20
Pana Uya Wana			Template:Convert	0
Panaeati	Bwaganati	Maggiau, Palualual, Siakeu, Namati, Panakakamwa, Nulia Wharf, Lebwalebwal	Template:Convert	2080
Panapompom	Nulia	Galowawaisana, Panaewau	Template:Convert	600
Passage			Template:Convert	0
Rara			Template:Convert	0
Duchateau Islands			Template:Convert	0
Jomard Islands			Template:Convert	0
Kukuluba			Template:Convert	0
Montemont Islands			Template:Convert	0
Pana Bobai Ana			Template:Convert	0
Pana Rura Wara			Template:Convert	0
Dumoulin Islands			Template:Convert	0
Ana Karu Karua			Template:Convert	0
Baiiri			Template:Convert	0
Duperre Islands	Punawan		Template:Convert	10
Duperre			Template:Convert	0
Punawan	Punawan		Template:Convert	10
East Deboyne Islands			Template:Convert	0
Basses Group			Template:Convert5	0
Bushy Islets			Template:Convert5	0
Mabui			Template:Convert7	0
Pana Sagusagu			Template:Convert2	0
Redlick Islets			Template:Convert	0
Engineer Islands	Skelton	Watts	Template:Convert	1200
Bright			Template:Convert	0
Butchart			Template:Convert	0
Button			Template:Convert	0
Deedes			Template:Convert	0
Flat			Template:Convert	0
Good			Template:Convert	0
Haszard			Template:Convert	0
Hummock	Tewatewa		Template:Convert	105
Messum			Template:Convert	0
Pender			Template:Convert	0
Powell			Template:Convert	0
Skelton	Naruaruari	Koialia, Waiaku, Digaigaia	Template:Convert	375
Slade	Samoa	Tubetube	Template:Convert	245
Watts	Gegadali	Taeaknabululu, Kwaraiwa	Template:Convert	475
Laseinie Islands	Dawson		Template:Convert	245
Dawson	Koyagaugau		Template:Convert	245
Hardman			Template:Convert	0
Kagawan			Template:Convert	0
Keaawan			Template:Convert	0
Misima Islands	Bwagaoia		Template:Convert	19330
Gigira			Template:Convert	0
Managun			Template:Convert	0
Misima	Bwagaoia	Baimatana, Hinauta, Kaubwaga, Boiou, Siagara, Kalotawa, Gulewa, Mwana, Liak, Panataval, Bagilina, Manihuna, Ewena, Ebora, Bwagabwaga, Alhoga, Eaus, Gaibobo, Narian	Template:Convert	19330
Daloloia Group			Template:Convert	0
Pana Tinani Islands	Bwailahina	Kabagi-bagi	Template:Convert	1764
Daddahai	Dadahai		Template:Convert8	34
Hevaisi			Template:Convert4	1
Nimoa	Soluwo	Boiminusi, Woos, Galanga Beach	Template:Convert6	395
Osasai			Template:Convert3	0
Pana Tinani	Bwailahina	Hobuk, Hauagili, Hessessai Bay, Buvara Bay, Bounce Point, Imadi Bay, Gawn Point, Hati Lawi Bay, Heihuti Bay, Bonawi Point	Template:Convert	527
Sibumbum			Template:Convert	0
Wanim	Bunbun		Template:Convert	400
Yeina	Kabagi-bagi	Araeda, Buwo, Jolandan	Template:Convert	407
Renard Islands	Kimuta		Template:Convert	617
Baiwa			Template:Convert	0
Kimuta	Awa	Atuatua	Template:Convert	617
Manuga Reef			Template:Convert	0
Niva Beno			Template:Convert	0
Oreia			Template:Convert	0
Rossel Islands	Rossel		Template:Convert	5100
Adele Islet			Template:Convert	0
Diama			Template:Convert	1
Other	Heron		Template:Convert	7
Pocklington Reef			Template:Convert	0
Rossel	Jinjo	Damunu, Yonga Bay, Mbuwo, Morpa, Wulunga Bay, Pum, Pwepwo, Piniga, Abeleti, Vyukwa, N’Jaru, Wale, Saman, Pambwa	Template:Convert	5000
Wule	Wule		Template:Convert	92
Samarai Islands	Samarai	Basilaki	Template:Convert	8200
Arch Islands	Nasa Rua Rua		Template:Convert	0
Doini	Doini		Template:Convert	30
Tuyam			Template:Convert	0
Gonubalabala	Ranger station		Template:Convert	0
Logea	Kasabanalua	Kumikuku, Dabali, Pota	Template:Convert	1004
Deka Deka			Template:Convert	0
Bonarua Hili Hili			Template:Convert	0
Kwato	Kwato	Isuhina	Template:Convert	66
Samarai	Samarai		Template:Convert	460
Ebuma	Evennett Mansion		Template:Convert2	1
Gesila			Template:Convert	19
Dagadaga			Template:Convert	1
Kwai Ama			Template:Convert	0
Beika			Template:Convert	0
Galahi	Galahi		Template:Convert	20
Lesimano			Template:Convert	0
Igwali	Igwali	Naba Riaria, Ga-Uri	Template:Convert	10
Kui	Kui		Template:Convert	5
Ito			Template:Convert	10
Sariba	Sidudu	Sauasauaga, Magehau, Sebuluna	Template:Convert	1880
Sideia	Sideia	Oba, Gotai, Gadogadowa, Sekuku, Dulauna, Tegerauna	Template:Convert	1890
Populai	Margaret Ville		Template:Convert	15
Dinana			Template:Convert	0
Buiari	Weitoa		Template:Convert	500
Basilaki	Yokowa	Habani	Template:Convert	1883
Kitai Bai			Template:Convert	0
Kitai Katoa	Maragum		Template:Convert	17
Kitai Katu			Template:Convert	10
Kitai Lilivea			Template:Convert	190
Kitai Bona Bona	Kibou		Template:Convert	10
Castori Islets	Baia Baia Karona		Template:Convert	0
Gado-Gadoa			Template:Convert	1
Wasima			Template:Convert	0
Other		Sripkunui Island, Nasariri Island, Didigilo Island, Grant Island, Shortland Island	Template:Convert	0
Torlesse Islands			Template:Convert	0
Pananiu			Template:Convert	0
Tinolan			Template:Convert	0
Vanatinai Islands	Rambuso	Tagula, Donuwo, Bololo	Template:Convert	3360
Boboa			Template:Convert	0
Iyen	Iyen		Template:Convert	102
Pana Man			Template:Convert	0
Vanatinai	Rambuso	Tagula, Eden, Mitin, Edwahi, Griffin Point, Tarangia, Lajamare, Donuwo, Siri Point, Buiawe, Bololo, Emeli, Pamela, Madaua, Jelewaga	Template:Convert	3257
Venama			Template:Convert	0
Wari Islands	Wari		Template:Convert	926
Imbert			Template:Convert	0
Kosman Reef	Kosman	Nabaina	Template:Convert	100
Lebrun Islands			Template:Convert	0
Long Reef	Lejeune		Template:Convert	100
Other			Template:Convert	0
Quessant			Template:Convert	0
Sable			Template:Convert	0
Siga			Template:Convert	0
Stuers Islands			Template:Convert	0
Wari	Wari		Template:Convert	726
Louisiade Archipelago	Bwagaoia	Samarai, Rossel	Template:Convert	47000

See also

• List of islands of Papua New Guinea
• Louisiade Rural LLG

External links

• Template:Cite EB1911
• Template:WWF ecoregion
• 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