The island of Makira (also known as San Cristobal and San Cristóbal) 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.
The first recorded sighting by Europeans of Makira was by the Spanish expedition of Álvaro de Mendaña in June 1568. More precisely the sighting and also landing in San Cristobal was due to a local voyage that set out from Guadalcanal in a small boat, in the accounts the brigantineSantiago, commanded by Alférez Hernando Enriquez and having Hernán Gallego as pilot. They charted it as San Cristóbal.[1][2]
A 182,550 ha tract of largely forested land encompassing the eastern part of the island has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports populations of several threatened or endemic bird species. The site extends from the rocky cliffs of the coast to the island's central Bauro Highlands, including the catchments of the Warihito and Raro Rivers, reaching an altitude of 1,200 m, and consisting largely of tropical rainforest. The landscape is rugged, with steep-sided valleys, many streams and waterfalls, and small perched floodplains. Potential threats to the environment are logging, invasive species and human population growth.[4]
Five species of restricted-range bats have been recorded, as well as a possibly new species of giant rat (Solomys). There are two species of endemic fig (Ficus).[4]
Notable peopleedit
Doreen Kuper - former Honorary Consul to New Zealand.
Galleryedit
Some of the local houses next to the beach at Kirakira
A kirakira beach at sunset
Referencesedit
^Sharp, Andrew The discovery of the Pacific Islands Oxford, 1960, pp.46,47.
^Brand, Donald D. The Pacific Basin: A History of its Geographical Explorations The American Geographical Society, New York, 1967, p.133.
^SOLOMON ISLANDS. Study to Support the Development of a National Skills Training Plan (Report). Washington: East Asia and Pacific Region. Human Development Sector Unit. The World Bank. March 2007. Report No. 39317-SB.
^ abc "East Makira". BirdLife Data Zone. BirdLife International. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
External linksedit
Media related to Makira at Wikimedia Commons
October 27, 2023
makira, confused, with, makura, island, nearby, vanuatu, also, known, other, uses, disambiguation, island, also, known, cristobal, cristóbal, largest, island, ulawa, province, solomon, islands, third, most, populous, island, after, malaita, guadalcanal, with, . Not to be confused with Makura an island of nearby Vanuatu also known as Makira For other uses see Makira disambiguation The island of Makira also known as San Cristobal and San Cristobal 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 MakiraMakira and nearby islandsLocation of Makira in Solomon IslandsGeographyLocationSolomon IslandsCoordinates10 33 04 S 161 49 41 E 10 55111 S 161 82806 E 10 55111 161 82806Area3 190 km2 1 230 sq mi Highest elevation4 101 ft 1250 m Highest pointUnnamed PointAdministrationSolomon IslandsProvinceMakira Ulawa ProvinceLargest settlementKirakiraDemographicsPopulation55 126 2020 Contents 1 History 2 Education 3 Environment 3 1 Birds 3 2 Other biota 4 Notable people 5 Gallery 6 References 7 External linksHistory editThe first recorded sighting by Europeans of Makira was by the Spanish expedition of Alvaro de Mendana in June 1568 More precisely the sighting and also landing in San Cristobal was due to a local voyage that set out from Guadalcanal in a small boat in the accounts the brigantine Santiago commanded by Alferez Hernando Enriquez and having Hernan Gallego as pilot They charted it as San Cristobal 1 2 Education editThe Stuyvenberg Rural Training Centre is a rural boarding centre of vocational education by the Society of Mary located on the north coast of eastern Makira 3 Environment editA 182 550 ha tract of largely forested land encompassing the eastern part of the island has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area IBA because it supports populations of several threatened or endemic bird species The site extends from the rocky cliffs of the coast to the island s central Bauro Highlands including the catchments of the Warihito and Raro Rivers reaching an altitude of 1 200 m and consisting largely of tropical rainforest The landscape is rugged with steep sided valleys many streams and waterfalls and small perched floodplains Potential threats to the environment are logging invasive species and human population growth 4 Birds edit Significant birds include Melanesian scrubfowl yellow legged pigeons crested cuckoo doves red knobbed and chestnut bellied imperial pigeons white headed fruit doves Makira boobooks pied goshawks Sanford s sea eagles San Cristobal dwarf kingfishers Meek s and duchess lorikeets yellow bibbed lories green pygmy parrots Makira honeyeaters sooty myzomelas long tailed trillers dusky fantails Makira flycatchers white collared and Makira monarchs island leaf warblers shade bush warblers grey throated white eyes Makira starlings Makira thrushes and mottled flowerpeckers The Makira woodhen or moorhen has not been seen since 1953 the thick billed ground dove has not been recorded since 1927 and is presumed extinct 4 Other biota edit Five species of restricted range bats have been recorded as well as a possibly new species of giant rat Solomys There are two species of endemic fig Ficus 4 Notable people editDoreen Kuper former Honorary Consul to New Zealand Gallery edit nbsp Some of the local houses next to the beach at Kirakira nbsp A kirakira beach at sunsetReferences edit Sharp Andrew The discovery of the Pacific Islands Oxford 1960 pp 46 47 Brand Donald D The Pacific Basin A History of its Geographical Explorations The American Geographical Society New York 1967 p 133 SOLOMON ISLANDS Study to Support the Development of a National Skills Training Plan Report Washington East Asia and Pacific Region Human Development Sector Unit The World Bank March 2007 Report No 39317 SB a b c East Makira BirdLife Data Zone BirdLife International Retrieved 6 October 2020 External links edit nbsp Media related to Makira at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Makira amp oldid 1064163044, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
