 A detailed map of Hiw, showing modern villages (red) and ancient, now uninhabited villages (pink) | |
 | |
  Hiw | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 13°08′S166°33′E / 13.133°S 166.550°E |
| Archipelago | Vanuatu, Torres Islands |
| Area | 51 km2 (20 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 366 m (1201 ft) |
| Highest point | Mount Wonvara |
| Administration | |
Vanuatu | |
| Province | Torba Province |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 269 (2009) |
Hiw (sometimes spelled Hiu) is the northernmost island in Vanuatu, located in Torba Province.
The island's name Hiw [hiw] is taken from the local Hiw language; it is known as Hiu [hi̯u] in neighboring Lo-Toga. Etymologically, these forms reflect Proto-Torres-Banks *siwo, from Proto-Oceanic *sipo “(go) down”, understood here in its geocentric sense of “located northwest”. [1]
Hiw is the largest island in the Torres Islands in Torba Province. It is situated east of the Torres Trench, south of Vanikoro in the Solomon Islands. It has an area of 51 square kilometres (20 square miles). The highest point is Mount Wonvara (366 metres (1,201 feet).
Hiw's climate is humid tropical. The average annual rainfall is about 4000 mm. The island is subject to frequent cyclones and earthquakes.
Vewoag Point (locally called Ngrë Twome), the northern cape of Hiw, is the northernmost point of land of Vanuatu. 1.6 kilometres (1.0 mile) of Hiw is a submerged coral reef, Ngwey Gakwe (formerly Recif Giraudeau), over which the waves break.
Hiw has a population of about 270 inhabitants. [2]
They are distributed in three villages, all located on the east coast: Yogwye[ˈjɔɰwjə]; Yaqane[jaˈkʷanə]; and the main village Yögevigemëne[ˌjɵɣəˌβiɣəˈmenə], whose name is sometimes shortened to Yugemëne[ˌjʉɣəˈmenə].
The language spoken on the island is also called Hiw.
The Torres islands are served by Torres Airport, which is located on the Linua island, south of Hiw.
Gaua is the largest and second most populous of the Banks Islands in Torba Province in northern Vanuatu. It covers 342 km².
Vanua Lava is the second largest of the Banks Islands in Torba Province, Vanuatu, after slightly larger Gaua.
Tegua is an island in Vanuatu's Torres Islands chain, located in Torba Province.
Lakon is an Oceanic language, spoken on the west coast of Gaua island in Vanuatu.
Merelava is an island in the Banks Islands of the Torba Province of northern Vanuatu.
Koro is an Oceanic language spoken on Gaua island in Vanuatu. Its 280 speakers live in the village of Koro, on the south coast of Gaua.
Lo-Toga is an Oceanic language spoken by about 580 people on the islands of Lo and Toga, in the Torres group of northern Vanuatu. The language has sometimes been called Loh(sic) or Toga, after either of its two dialects.
Hiw is an Oceanic language spoken on the island of Hiw, in the Torres Islands of Vanuatu. With about 280 speakers, Hiw is considered endangered.
Dorig(formerly called Wetamut) is a threatened Oceanic language spoken on Gaua island in Vanuatu.
Lemerig is an Oceanic language spoken on Vanua Lava, in Vanuatu.
Nume is an Oceanic language spoken on Gaua island in Vanuatu. Its 700 speakers live on the northeast coast of Gaua.
Mwesen is an Oceanic language spoken in the southeastern area of Vanua Lava Island, in the Banks Islands of northern Vanuatu, by about 10 speakers.
Löyöp is an Oceanic language spoken by about 240 people, on the east coast of Ureparapara Island in the Banks Islands of Vanuatu. It is distinct from Lehali, the language spoken on the west coast of the same island.
Lehali is an Oceanic language spoken by about 200 people, on the west coast of Ureparapara Island in Vanuatu. It is distinct from Löyöp, the language spoken on the east coast of the same island.
Toga is an island in the Torres group, within the Torba Province of Vanuatu.
The Torres–Banks languages form a linkage of Southern Oceanic languages spoken in the Torres Islands and Banks Islands of northern Vanuatu.
Proto-Torres-Banks is the reconstructed ancestor of the seventeen languages of the Torres and Banks Islands of Vanuatu. Like all indigenous languages of Vanuatu, it belongs to the Oceanic branch of the Austronesian languages.
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