Sariba Island

Sariba Island

Sariba Island
Geography
Location	Oceania
Coordinates	10°36′30″S150°43′30″E / 10.60833°S 150.72500°E / -10.60833; 150.72500 [1]
Archipelago	Louisiade Archipelago
Adjacent to	Solomon Sea
Total islands	1
Major islands	Sariba
Area	23.21 km2 (8.96 sq mi)
Length	5.5 km (3.42 mi)
Width	7.8 km (4.85 mi)
Coastline	41.6 km (25.85 mi)
Highest elevation	296 m (971 ft)
Highest point	Mount Haines
Administration
Papua New Guinea
Province	Milne Bay
Island Group	Samarai Islands
Island Group	Sariba Islands
Ward	split
Largest settlement	Sidudu(pop. 300)
Demographics
Population	1880 (2014)
Pop. density	81/km2 (210/sq mi)
Ethnic groups	Papuans, Austronesians, Melanesians.
Additional information
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10)
ISO code	PG-MBA
Official website	www.ncdc.gov.pg

Saliba Island is an island to the south of Milne Bay in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.

Administration

The island has 2 Wards: Sidudu in the northern part (with adjoining islands), and Sauasauaga on the southern part (which also includes adjoining islands and the western part of Sideia). Both Wards belong to Bwanabwana Rural Local Level Government Area LLG, Samarai-Murua District, which are in Milne Bay Province. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

Geography

The island is part of the Sariba group, itself a part of Samarai Islands of the Louisiade Archipelago. The island is only 240 meters at its closest part to the larger Sideia Island, near the town of Sauasauaga. Its highest point is 278 metres. Sariba has a tropical rainforest climate. ^[5]

History

Sariba Island was first sighted by Europeans when the Spanish expedition of Luís Vaez de Torres passed through Sawa Sawaga channel that they named Boca de Batalla (Battle Passage) on 20 July 1606. ^[6] During World War II the US Navy built a seaplane base on the island as part of Naval Base Milne Bay. The base contained a camp for 130 men, a small boat pier, communications building, offices, and general storehouses. ^[7]

Demographics

The population of 1980 was living in 30 villages across the island. The most important one, and where the dock is located, is Sidudu. The other villages (clockwise): Simsimai, Nawaripa, Tobai, Wakoiara, Tanabuibuna, Sebuluna, Bwasikoko, Lamabo, Labulabu, Namoai, Isunaleilei, Sauasauaga, Dabunai, Bwastau, Porapa, Gamarai, Kwalosai, Iogi, Sunamaleuya, Kikina, Debasina, Koitubitubi, Magalkalona, Magesina, Magehau, Dagadaga. ^[8]

Economy

The islanders are farmers as opposed to eastern Louisiade Archipelago islanders. They grow Sago, Taro, and Yams for crops. ^[9] There is a small boatbuilding industry, with many of the male inhabitants contributing to the work. ^[10]

Transportation

There is a dock at Sidudu.

References

1. Prostar Sailing Directions 2004 New Guinea Enroute, p. 168
2. LLG map
3. "Districts of Papua New Guinea". Statoids. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
4. "PNG Admin Boundaries". OCHA. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
5. "Sariba Island topographic map". Topographic Map. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
6. Hilder, Brett The voyage of Torres, Brisbane, 1980, pp.29
7. "Building the Navy's Bases in World War II Volume II (Part III, Chapter 26)". Wayback Machine. Naval History and Heritage Command. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
8. map with villages
9. Lonely Planet
10. "Boat builder determined to contribute to connecting maritime provinces". Papua New Guinea Post Courier. 2 April 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.