Samarai Islands

Samarai Islands
Geography
Coordinates	11°12′S 153°00′E / 11.200°S 153.000°E
Archipelago	Louisiade Archipelago
Total islands	50
Major islands	5
Area	262.1 km2 (101.2 sq mi)
Administration
	Papua New Guinea
Province	Milne Bay Province
Capital city	Samarai
Largest settlement	Samarai (pop. 460)
Demographics
Population	8200 (2014)

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.

Geography

The archipelago consists of: 4 larger volcanic islands frequently fringed by coral reefs; and 30 smaller coral islands.

The islands stretch over more than 50 kilometres (31 mi), and spread over an ocean area of 1,000 square kilometres (390 sq mi), between the Solomon Sea to the north and the Coral Sea to the south. The aggregate land area of the islands is about 262.1 square kilometres (101.2 sq mi), with Basilaki Island being the largest.

Logea Island, Samarai Island and Sariba Island lie closest to mainland New Guinea, while the Kitai Group lies further east.

The entire archipelago is within the Bwanabwana Rural LLG (Local Level Government), a part of the Samarai-Murua District in Milne Bay Province, southeastern Papua New Guinea. The seat of the Bwanabwana Rural LLG is Samarai, the population center of the Samarai Islands archipelago.^[1]

List of islands

History

Malay and Chinese sailors may have visited the islands before European explorers. The islands most likely first sighted by Europeans in 1606, by Luis Váez de Torres. Louis Antoine de Bougainville named them the Louisiades in 1768 for King Louis XV of France. European stops were also paid by Admiral Bruni d'Entrecasteaux in 1793, and Captain Owen Stanley in 1849.

Climate

The islands have a moist tropical climate, and are largely covered with tropical moist broadleaf forests.

References

^ Pngec.gov.pg: Election Info 2007—Milne Bay Province Poll Schedule^{[permanent dead link]}

External links

[1] Pngec.gov.pg: Election Info 2007—Milne Bay Province Poll Schedule^{[permanent dead link]}

[1]

v t e Islands of Papua New Guinea
Ali Brumer D'Entrecasteaux Islands Dobu Fergusson Goodenough Normanby Sanaroa Wagifa Dart Reefs Daru Goaribari Kiwai Mailu New Guinea Nuakata Nukumanu Purutu Seleo Trobriands Kiriwina Tumleo Vitu Islands Unea Wabuda Woodlark Boagis Madau Marshall Bennett Nubara Nusam Yule
Bismarck Archipelago	Admiralty Islands Baluan Big Ndrova Bipi Little Ndrova Los Negros Lou Manus Pak Pam Islands Pityilu Island Ponam Island Purdy St. Andrews Islands Rambutyo Tong Baudisson Bagabag Duke of York Islands Duke of York Island Kabakon Kerawara Makada Mioko Mualim Ulu Dyaul Feni Islands Ambitle Babase Karkar Lihir Group Lihir Island Long Manam Manne New Britain New Hanover New Ireland Patio Ritter St Matthias Islands Emirau Mussau Sakar Schouten Islands Bam Blup Blup Kadovar Mut Mut Vial Selapiu Tabar Group Simberi Tabar Tatau Tanga Islands Boang Lif Malendok Tefa Tolokiwa Tsoilaunung Umboi Western Islands Aua Hermit Islands Kaniet Islands Ninigo Islands Sae Wuvulu
Louisiade Archipelago	Bonvouloir Islands East Hastings Strathord Islands Calvados Chain Bagaman Gulewa Hemenahei Kuwanak Motorina Pana Wina Utian Conflict Group Auriroa Lunn Daloloia Group Deboyne Islands Panaeati Panapompom Duchateau Islands Dumoulin Islands Engineer Islands Misima Jomard Islands Panarairai Pana Tinani Pocklington Reef Renard Islands Rossel (Yela) Samarai Islands Basilaki Gonubalabala Kui Samarai Sideia Vanatinai Yeina
North Solomon Islands	Bougainville Buka Carteret Islands Green Islands Barahun Nissan Pinipel Sirot Takuu
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