Geography | |
---|---|
Location | Oceania |
Coordinates | 10°36′30″S150°43′30″E / 10.60833°S 150.72500°E [1] |
Archipelago | Louisiade Archipelago |
Adjacent to | Solomon Sea |
Total islands | 1 |
Major islands |
|
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 | |
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 | Papauans, Austronesians, Melanesians. |
Additional information | |
Time zone | |
ISO code | PG-MBA |
Official website | www |
Saliba Island is a large island in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
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]
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 most closest part to the larger Sideia Island, near the town of Sauasauaga.
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. [3] During World War II the US Navy built a seaplane base on the island as part of Naval Base Milne Bay.
The population of 1880 is 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. [4]
The islanders, are farmers as opposed to eastern Louisiade Archipelago islanders. they grow Sago, Taro, and Yams for crops. [5]
There is a dock at Sidudu.
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.
Milne Bay is a province of Papua New Guinea. Its capital is Alotau. The province covers 14,345 km2 of land and 252,990 km2 of sea, within the province there are more than 600 islands, about 160 of which are inhabited. The province has about 276,000 inhabitants, speaking about 48 languages, most of which belong to the Eastern Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family. Economically the province is dependent upon tourism, oil palm, and gold mining on Misima Island; in addition to these larger industries there are many small-scale village projects in cocoa and copra cultivation. The World War II Battle of Milne Bay took place in the province.
Sideia Island is an island in the Louisiade Archipelago in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Basilaki Island is an island in the Louisiade Archipelago in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. It is located at the eastern end of the New Guinea mainland.
Doini Island is an island on the southern side of East Channel, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Gonubalabala Island (on maps as Gona Bara Bara) is an island on the southern side of East Channel, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. It is located South east of Logea Island. It is a home island of the Mailulu clan.
Logea Island is a large island separating West Channel, East Channel and China Strait, just south of Milne Bay, in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Kwato Island an island in China Strait, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Gesila Island is a small island separating West Channel, East Channel and China Strait, just south of Milne Bay, in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Dagadaga Bonarua Island is an island separating East Channel and China Strait, just south of Milne Bay, in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Galahi Island is an island off the northeast coast of Sariba, in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Lesimano Island is an island off the north coast of Sariba, in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Igwali Island is an island north of Sariba Island, and on the eastern side of China Strait, in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Mekinley Island is an island north of Sariba Island, and on the eastern side of China Strait, in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Ito Island is an island between Sariba and Sideia, on the eastern side of China Strait, in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Populai Island is an island in the Louisiade Archipelago in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Dinana Island is an island in the Louisiade Archipelago in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
Buiari Island is an island in the Louisiade Archipelago in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
The Samarai Islands archipelago, part of the larger Louisiade Archipelago, is located 50 kilometres (31 mi) southeast of mainland New Guinea island, within the nation of Papua New Guinea.
Bwanabwana Rural LLG is a local-level government (LLG) of Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. The LLG is situated in the western part of Louisiade Archipelago with Basilaki Island. The Bwanabwana language is spoken in the LLG.