Taiof Island

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Taiof Island
Taiof Island
Geography
Coordinates 5°31′30″S154°39′14″E / 5.525°S 154.654°E / -5.525; 154.654
Archipelago Solomon Islands
Administration
Papua New Guinea
Kunua Rural LLG, North Solomons Province, Autonomous Region of Bougainville

Taiof Island, also known as Toiokh Island, is a small volcanic island off the north-western coast of Bougainville Island, in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville in eastern Papua New Guinea. It is part of the Solomon Islands Archipelago and falls within the Kunua Rural LLG in the North Solomons Province. Saposa language is spoken by the inhabitants on the island.

Contents

History

During the Second World War, Taiof Island was occupied by the Japanese in 1942. In early March 1944, the villagers loyal to the Allies ambushed the Japanese troops who attempted to escape from the island using native canoes to reach Tarlean on the northwest coast of Bougainville. After the war, it was part of Kieta District in the Northern Solomons in the territory of New Guinea. In 1975, it became part of the Bougainville Province in Papua New Guinea, which became an autonomous region in 2002. [1] [2]

Geography

Taiof is a small volcanic island off the north-western coast of Bougainville Island, in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville in eastern Papua New Guinea. It is located in the north-eastern Solomon Islands Archipelago. [3] [4] It is located to the south of Sohano and Buka Islands, and north-west of Soraken. It falls within the Kunua Rural LLG in the North Solomons Province. [1] [5] The island occupies an area of 23.065 km2 (8.905 sq mi) and has a tropical rainforest climate with heavy rainfall, high humidity and hot temperatures year round. [4] [6]

It is located on the Banda Sea, a distinct plate in the eastern Indonesian region. Interactions of with the Australian and Pacific plates, gives rise to notable seismic and volcanic activity in the islands. [6] The island has a mean elevation of 62 m (203 ft). The topography consists of flat coastal lowlands and plains in the interior with the highest elevation reaching 180 m (590 ft). The island has a significant tree cover (87% of land area) with evergreen forests dominating the ecosystem. [6]

Demographics and economy

Saposa language is spoken by the inhabitants on the island. [7] In 1998, there were 1400 residents, who were recorded in the island. [8] Tourism is a major contributor to the economy with cruise ships bringing tourists to the island. [9]

References

  1. 1 2 "Taiof". Pacific Wrecks. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  2. ↑ Karl James (2012). The Hard Slog: Australians in the Bougainville Campaign, 1944–45. Cambridge University Press. pp. 119–121, 130–135. ISBN   1107017327.
  3. ↑ "Taiof Island". Go Papua New Guinea. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Taiof". Mindat. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  5. ↑ "Papua New Guinea, Bougainville Island, Taiof Island". ANU archives. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 "Raiof". World Islands. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  7. ↑ Griffin, Helga M.; Regan, Anthony J. Bougainville before the conflict (PDF). ANU Press. p. 37. ISBN   978-1-921934-24-7.
  8. ↑ Darrell Tryon. "Languages of Bougainville" (PDF). Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  9. ↑ "Seabourne pursuit in Buka". Post Courier. 4 May 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
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