Makira-Ulawa Province | |
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 Flag | |
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| Coordinates: 10°26′S161°52′E / 10.433°S 161.867°E | |
| Country |  Solomon Islands |
| Capital | Kirakira |
| Government | |
| • Premier | Hon. Julian Maka'a |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3,188 km2 (1,231 sq mi) |
| Population (2009) | |
| • Total | 40,419 |
| • Density | 12.7/km2 (33/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+11 (+11) |
Makira-Ulawa Province is one of the nine provinces of Solomon Islands. [1]
The main part of the province is Makira Island. [2] It has a population of 40,419 (2009). The capital is Kirakira.
Makira-Ulawa Province includes Makira (San Cristobal), Ulawa, Uki Ni Masi, Owaraha (Santa Ana), Owariki (Santa Catalina), Pio and others.
Makira Island is 3090km²: 139km long by 40km wide at around the centre of the island. Mountains run like a spine down the island's centre: the highest point reaches 1040 m, then falls steeply to the sea along its southern shore. Many rivers penetrate the island in roughly parallel lines every two to five kilometres. Makira has more inland swamps—and saltwater crocodiles—than any other island in the Solomon Islands. Its coast is the only part of the Solomons where the rare Olive, or Pacific Ridley, turtle is known to visit and nest. [3]
Because Makira Island was isolated for long stretches of time during periods of high sea level, a wide variety of unique plants and animals evolved. For example, 12 of its 70 resident species of birds are endemic, as are two species of trees, both figs ( Ficus cristobalensis and Ficus illiberalis ). This uniqueness highlights the importance of preserving Makira's forest habitat.
Makira is also among the most important islands in the country for birds. There are some bird watching spots on the island. At the village of Hauta, situated hundreds of metres above sea level, at the Bauro inland region an established conservation area exists. However, one requires a permission to visit, which can be acquired from the Provincial Office at Kirakira.
In 2009, the total population was estimated to be 40,419. Makira-Ulawa people are mostly Melanesian and their traditional dances and rituals are still strongly kept, especially in the islands of Santa Ana (Owaraha), Santa Catalina (Owariki), Uki-ni-masi and Ulawa.
On Makira, five languages are spoken: Arosi, Bauro, Fagani, Kahua, and Owa. The Bauro speakers have been considered to be the most isolated and conservative of the Makira groups. The people of Ulawa and Ugi Island speak Sa'a. [4]
Makira-Ulawa Province is sub-divided into the following wards:
Solomon Islands is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean, that lies east of Papua New Guinea.
The family of Southeast Solomonic languages forms a branch of the Oceanic languages. It consists of some 26 languages covering the Eastern Solomon Islands, from the tip of Santa Isabel to Makira. The fact that there is little diversity amongst these languages, compared to groups of similar size in Melanesia, suggests that they dispersed in the relatively recent past. Bugotu and Gela are two of the most conservative languages.
The island of Makira is the largest island of Makira-Ulawa Province in the Solomon Islands. It is third most populous island after Malaita and Guadalcanal, with a population of 55,126 as of 2020. The island is located east of Guadalcanal and south of Malaita. The largest and capital city is Kirakira.
Santa Isabel Island is the longest in Solomon Islands, the third largest in terms of surface area, and the largest in the group of islands in Isabel Province.
Kirakira, also spelt Kira Kira, is the provincial capital of the Makira-Ulawa Province in Solomon Islands. Kirakira is located on the north coast of Makira, the largest island of the province. It has roads running 18 kilometres (11 mi) east to the Warihito River and 100 kilometres (62 mi) west to Maro'u Bay.
Kirakira Airport is an airport located at Kirakira on the island of Makira, part of the Makira-Ulawa Province in the Solomon Islands. It is also known as Ngorangora Airstrip and was constructed in the late 1950s. The airport has scheduled flights provided by Solomon Airlines, using DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft.
Santa Ana Airport is an airport on Santa Ana, an island in the Makira-Ulawa Province in the Solomon Islands. The airport has scheduled flights provided by Solomon Airlines, using DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft.
The Owa language is one of the languages of Solomon Islands. It is part of the same dialect continuum as Kahua, and shares the various alternate names of that dialect.
Ulawa Island is an island in Solomon Islands. It is located near Malaita Island and belongs to Makira Ulawa Province. The island has an area of 65.92 square kilometres.
The Solomon Archipelago is a terrestrial ecoregion and marine ecoregion in the Pacific Ocean. It includes the tropical ocean waters surrounding most of the Solomon Islands archipelago, and includes Bougainville Island and Buka Island of Papua New Guinea and their surrounding waters.
Pio Island is an island in the Solomon Islands province of Makira-Ulawa. It is situated 4 km north-west of Ugi Island. It is 2.7 km long and 1.5 km wide. The estimated terrain elevation above sea level is some 227 metres. The island has no villages. Coral reef surrounds the island, which is largest in the west and south of the island.
Owaraha or Owa Raha is an island in Makira-Ulawa Province, Solomon Islands.
Owariki or Owa rigi is an island in Solomon Islands; it is located in Makira-Ulawa Province.
Ugi Island, also Uki Island, is an island in Solomon Islands; it is located in Makira-Ulawa Province and lies 11 km north of Makira Island.
Santa Ana Airport may refer to:
Heinrich Küper was a German adventurer who lived in the Solomon Islands.
Olu Malau Islands are islands of Makira-Ulawa Province of Solomon Islands. The estimated terrain elevation above sea level is 24 metres.
Solomon Islands–Spain relations are the bilateral and diplomatic relations between these two countries. Solomon Islands does not have an embassy resident in Spain but maintains an honorary consulate in Madrid.
On 9 December 2016 at 4:38 a.m. local time, the Solomon Islands region was rocked by an Mww 7.8 earthquake, centered 30 km off San Cristobal Island, about 61 km southwest of Kirakira, the capital of Makira-Ulawa Province. Initially registering magnitude 8.0, later downgraded to 7.8, the temblor prompted tsunami warnings that kept countries surrounding the Coral, Tasman and Solomon Sea on high alert, but was later cancelled. A large aftershock of magnitude 6.9 occurred shortly afterwards. This earthquake was largely felt, waking many residents who later ran to high ground for fears of a potential tsunami. The earthquake killed a child and affected some 34,000 people in Makira, South Malaita and Guadalcanal Island where many had lost their homes or had no access to basic needs. Earthquakes are common in this region, with little or no fatalities. This earthquake is tied with three other magnitude 7.8 earthquakes for the second largest earthquake of 2016. On 17 December, the Solomon Islands would be rattled again by a 7.9 magnitude earthquake, this time 54 km east of Taron, Papua New Guinea.
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