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Misima Island

May 01, 2024

Misima (formerly called St. Aignan) is a volcanic island in the northwest of Louisiade Archipelago within Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea.

Misima Island
Nickname: St. Aignan Island
Misima Island photo
Misima Island
Geography
LocationOceania
Coordinates10°41′S 152°43′E / 10.683°S 152.717°E / -10.683; 152.717
ArchipelagoLouisiade Archipelago
Adjacent toSolomon Sea
Total islands3
Major islands
Area215 km2 (83 sq mi)
Length40 km (25 mi)
Width10 km (6 mi)
Highest elevation1,036 m (3399 ft)
Highest pointMount Koia Tau or Oia Tau First Recorded Ascent:24 December 2016 by Kolbe Bare and two other Misimans
Administration
Province Milne Bay
DistrictSamarai-Murua District
LLG[1]Louisiade Rural Local Level Government Area
Island GroupMisima Islands
Largest settlementBwagaoia (pop. 2680)
Demographics
Population19,330 (2014)
Pop. density89.9/km2 (232.8/sq mi)
Ethnic groupsPapauans, Austronesians, Melanesians.
Additional information
Time zone
ISO codePG-MBA
Official websitewww.ncdc.gov.pg
Location within Louisiade Archipelago
Misima Island from space
Misima Mine and Bwagaoia from space

History edit

Misima Island was inhabited by Austronesians since about 1500 BC. The island was sighted in 1768 by French captain Louis Antoine de Bougainville and explored 1793 by French explorer Antoine Bruni d'Entrecasteaux. Misima island owes its name to Élisabeth-Paul-Édouard de Rossel, which was a lieutenant of the Counter admiral Antoine Bruny d'Entrecasteaux during his journey of scientific exploration. In 1888 the British Empire annexed Misima Island, and it became part of British New Guinea (since 1904 - the Territory of Papua administered by Australia).

Gold was discovered on Misima late in 1888.[2] By March 1889, eighty men were on the island digging for gold, and a storekeeper had set up a business.[3]

Since 1975, Misima belongs to the independent state of Papua New Guinea. A gold and silver mine was opened on the island in 1990, by an international corporation. The mines provided plenty of work for the islanders. however, that mine was officially closed in 2004, because of excessive load on the environment and public health hazards.[4]

Politics edit

The island is within the Samarai Murua District.

Geography edit

The island measures 40 km by 10 km and has an area of 214,5 km². It is located some 20 km north of the northwest extreme of the barrier reef of Vanatinai at Isu Raua Raua Island, and 80 km northwest of Vanatinai Island itself.

Misima is mountainous and densely forested. Mt. Koia Tau, at a height of 1,036 meters, is the highest peak of the Louisiade Archipelago.

It was not until 24 December 2016 when Kolbe Bare, a Papua New Guinean geologist, and two Misimans, David Kaliton and Kaliton Ada, made the first recorded ascent to the Top of Oia Tau.[4] It was noted by Kolbe that even though the mountain is close to the sea, Higher altitude vegetation covers the top of the mountain at the time of ascent.

Climate edit

The local climate is tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds, with a dry season from 1 December to 31 May, and a wet season from 1 June to 30 November. it is usually very humid. Since it is fairly close to the equator, the temperature does not fluctuate much between winter and summer.

Economy edit

Misima island is known as a mining island. A huge mine operated many years on the island. The mine was a joint venture by Placer Dome Inc (owning 80%) and the state-owned Orogen Minerals Ltd. In March 2012 Barrick closed its post closure monitoring office in Bwagaoia having successfully rehabilitated the mine and mill sites.

Since 2004 when the mine closed, artisanal mining has become a major source of income in the island, with an association Misima Alluvial Gold Mining Association (MAGMA) starting in 2007. Other sources of income, especially for people living on the north coast, are cash crops of coconuts, copra, and cacao. A commercial fisheries project has been proposed, but has not been developed yet.

Demographics edit

The island has a population of 19,330, spread across 78 villages, Misima is the most heavily populated island in the Louisiade Archipelago. By area, it is the third largest, after Vanatinai and Rossel Island. Since the mines have closed, there are signs of population decrease. people are moving to Alotau for jobs.

Urbanization edit

The main town of the island and the seat of the district is Bwagaoia, located on the southeast corner of the island. Other villages are Hinauta, Boiou, Gulewa, Bagilina, Liak, Siagara, Eiaus (on the eastern north coast, reachable by road from Bwagaoia), Gulewa and Ewena (on the western north coast), and Bwagabwaga, Gaibobo and Alhoga (on the south coast).[5]

Cities edit

Village Name Ward Population Coordinates
Bwagaoia 03 Bwagaoia 2680 10°40′45″S 152°50′47″E / 10.679228°S 152.846404°E / -10.679228; 152.846404
Balmatana 30 Baimatana 323 10°40′25″S 152°51′59″E / 10.673647°S 152.866527°E / -10.673647; 152.866527
Hinauta 04 Hinauta 509 10°39′49″S 152°51′38″E / 10.663595°S 152.860578°E / -10.663595; 152.860578
Lobwa 31 Lobwa 285 10°39′09″S 152°51′10″E / 10.652514°S 152.852762°E / -10.652514; 152.852762
Gigig 05 Kaubwaga 627 10°38′53″S 152°51′04″E / 10.64805°S 152.851101°E / -10.64805; 152.851101
Kaubwaga 05 Kaubwaga 504 10°38′47″S 152°50′53″E / 10.646257°S 152.848137°E / -10.646257; 152.848137
Boiou 06 Boiou 640 10°37′39″S 152°48′54″E / 10.627445°S 152.814962°E / -10.627445; 152.814962
Ginul 06 Boiou 262 10°37′34″S 152°48′17″E / 10.62614°S 152.804615°E / -10.62614; 152.804615
Hopitkahin 07 Siagara East 862 10°36′39″S 152°47′30″E / 10.610698°S 152.791768°E / -10.610698; 152.791768
Kalotawa 08 Siagara West 1024 10°37′44″S 152°45′59″E / 10.629022°S 152.766261°E / -10.629022; 152.766261
Gulewa 09 Gulewa 768 10°38′16″S 152°44′17″E / 10.6379°S 152.738°E / -10.6379; 152.738
Kakamwa 09 Gulewa 329 10°38′24″S 152°43′22″E / 10.64°S 152.7227°E / -10.64; 152.7227
Liak 10 Liak 1523 10°39′00″S 152°42′11″E / 10.65°S 152.703°E / -10.65; 152.703
Bagilina 12 Bagilina 636 10°39′18″S 152°40′29″E / 10.655126°S 152.674738°E / -10.655126; 152.674738
Lalama 12 Bagilina 578 10°38′58″S 152°39′23″E / 10.649457°S 152.656382°E / -10.649457; 152.656382
Ewena 13 Ewena 516 10°37′19″S 152°33′36″E / 10.622°S 152.56°E / -10.622; 152.56
Ebora 14 Ebora 679 10°37′46″S 152°31′30″E / 10.62956°S 152.524873°E / -10.62956; 152.524873
Bwana 32 Bwana 138 10°39′40″S 152°35′18″E / 10.661051°S 152.588471°E / -10.661051; 152.588471
Bwagabwaga 15 Bwagabwaga 535 10°41′10″S 152°42′39″E / 10.686105°S 152.710968°E / -10.686105; 152.710968
Gigimwani 16 Awaibi 501 10°41′54″S 152°41′42″E / 10.698386°S 152.695093°E / -10.698386; 152.695093
Awaibi 16 Awaibi 252 10°42′08″S 152°42′08″E / 10.702186°S 152.70222°E / -10.702186; 152.70222
Bwaeyam 16 Awaibi 1010 10°42′26″S 152°42′54″E / 10.707154°S 152.71499°E / -10.707154; 152.71499
Alhoga 17 Alhoga 379 10°42′49″S 152°44′31″E / 10.713743°S 152.741871°E / -10.713743; 152.741871
Lohola 17 Alhoga 300 10°42′59″S 152°45′19″E / 10.716368°S 152.75533°E / -10.716368; 152.75533
Mwana (Tribes of Eaus River) 18 Eaus North 888 10°40′30″S 152°45′11″E / 10.675°S 152.753°E / -10.675; 152.753
Eaus (Palapa) 19 Eaus South 980 10°41′46″S 152°45′56″E / 10.696203°S 152.765643°E / -10.696203; 152.765643
Abalouna 19 Eaus South 564 10°41′48″S 152°46′41″E / 10.696653°S 152.777925°E / -10.696653; 152.777925
Quartz Mountain (Misima mines) 02 Narian 222 10°41′S 152°47′E / 10.69°S 152.79°E / -10.69; 152.79
Narian 02 Narian 836 10°41′25″S 152°48′44″E / 10.690259°S 152.812086°E / -10.690259; 152.812086
Gaibobo 20 Gaibobo 731 10°41′31″S 152°49′13″E / 10.691979°S 152.820156°E / -10.691979; 152.820156

Religion edit

About half the population identified themselves as members of a Christian church. see Religion in Papua New Guinea for more info.

Language edit

The main language of the island is also called Misiman, though many residents speak English and also Tok Pisin as a third language.

Culture edit

Education edit

  • Bwagaoia Primary School
  • Misima Secondary School formally Misima High School
  • Siagara Primary School
  • Liak Primary School
  • Patnai Primary School (Bwagabwaga)

Transportation edit

Misima Airport Closed. Only Means of transportation out of the island is by sea. News article https://www.postcourier.com.pg/png-air-suspends-all-flight-to-and-from-misima-airport/ Update: 3Million KINA airport upgrade https://www.thenational.com.pg/k3-million-for-misima-airport-upgrade/ locals still traveling by sea date 3rd of January 2024. (Misima has a working airport (IATA: MIS, ICAO: AYMM) (four flights weekly to the mainland (POM via Alotau) through Airlines of Papua New Guinea, and one charter run by Porgera Joint Venture), a high school (grades 7-12), a small market, a few small stores and a clinic/hospital, a post office,--all of which are located in Bwagaoia. There are ferries from Alotau which service Misima Island, costing around K100 (update 2024: K150-K200)and taking 17 (17-19) hours.

Flora and fauna edit

The following mammals are present on Misima Island:

Other animals:

References edit

  1. ^
  2. ^ Nelson, Hank (1976) Black, white & gold: goldmining in Papua New Guinea, 1878-1930, Canberra, Australian National University Press, p.28. ISBN 0708104878
  3. ^ Nelson, p.28
  4. ^ Official Web Site of the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ http://rspas.anu.edu.au/lmg/masp/workingpapers/05/MIL_05_16_01.pdf [bare URL PDF]

External links edit

  • Mine Report
  • Misima Island News at MisimaIsland.com
  • [2]

May 01, 2024
misima, island, misima, formerly, called, aignan, volcanic, island, northwest, louisiade, archipelago, within, milne, province, papua, guinea, nickname, aignan, island, photogeographylocationoceaniacoordinates10, 717archipelagolouisiade, archipelagoadjacent, t. Misima formerly called St Aignan is a volcanic island in the northwest of Louisiade Archipelago within Milne Bay Province of Papua New Guinea Misima IslandNickname St Aignan IslandMisima Island photoMisima IslandGeographyLocationOceaniaCoordinates10 41 S 152 43 E 10 683 S 152 717 E 10 683 152 717ArchipelagoLouisiade ArchipelagoAdjacent toSolomon SeaTotal islands3Major islandsMisimaManagunGigiraArea215 km2 83 sq mi Length40 km 25 mi Width10 km 6 mi Highest elevation1 036 m 3399 ft Highest pointMount Koia Tau or Oia Tau First Recorded Ascent 24 December 2016 by Kolbe Bare and two other MisimansAdministrationPapua New GuineaProvince Milne BayDistrictSamarai Murua DistrictLLG 1 Louisiade Rural Local Level Government AreaIsland GroupMisima IslandsLargest settlementBwagaoia pop 2680 DemographicsPopulation19 330 2014 Pop density89 9 km2 232 8 sq mi Ethnic groupsPapauans Austronesians Melanesians Additional informationTime zoneAEST UTC 10 ISO codePG MBAOfficial websitewww wbr ncdc wbr gov wbr pg Location within Louisiade Archipelago Misima Island from space Misima Mine and Bwagaoia from space Contents 1 History 2 Politics 3 Geography 3 1 Climate 4 Economy 5 Demographics 5 1 Urbanization 5 2 Cities 5 3 Religion 5 4 Language 6 Culture 7 Education 8 Transportation 9 Flora and fauna 10 References 11 External linksHistory editMisima Island was inhabited by Austronesians since about 1500 BC The island was sighted in 1768 by French captain Louis Antoine de Bougainville and explored 1793 by French explorer Antoine Bruni d Entrecasteaux Misima island owes its name to Elisabeth Paul Edouard de Rossel which was a lieutenant of the Counter admiral Antoine Bruny d Entrecasteaux during his journey of scientific exploration In 1888 the British Empire annexed Misima Island and it became part of British New Guinea since 1904 the Territory of Papua administered by Australia Gold was discovered on Misima late in 1888 2 By March 1889 eighty men were on the island digging for gold and a storekeeper had set up a business 3 Since 1975 Misima belongs to the independent state of Papua New Guinea A gold and silver mine was opened on the island in 1990 by an international corporation The mines provided plenty of work for the islanders however that mine was officially closed in 2004 because of excessive load on the environment and public health hazards 4 Politics editThe island is within the Samarai Murua District Geography editThe island measures 40 km by 10 km and has an area of 214 5 km It is located some 20 km north of the northwest extreme of the barrier reef of Vanatinai at Isu Raua Raua Island and 80 km northwest of Vanatinai Island itself Misima is mountainous and densely forested Mt Koia Tau at a height of 1 036 meters is the highest peak of the Louisiade Archipelago It was not until 24 December 2016 when Kolbe Bare a Papua New Guinean geologist and two Misimans David Kaliton and Kaliton Ada made the first recorded ascent to the Top of Oia Tau 4 It was noted by Kolbe that even though the mountain is close to the sea Higher altitude vegetation covers the top of the mountain at the time of ascent Climate edit The local climate is tropical moderated by northeast trade winds with a dry season from 1 December to 31 May and a wet season from 1 June to 30 November it is usually very humid Since it is fairly close to the equator the temperature does not fluctuate much between winter and summer Economy editMisima island is known as a mining island A huge mine operated many years on the island The mine was a joint venture by Placer Dome Inc owning 80 and the state owned Orogen Minerals Ltd In March 2012 Barrick closed its post closure monitoring office in Bwagaoia having successfully rehabilitated the mine and mill sites Since 2004 when the mine closed artisanal mining has become a major source of income in the island with an association Misima Alluvial Gold Mining Association MAGMA starting in 2007 Other sources of income especially for people living on the north coast are cash crops of coconuts copra and cacao A commercial fisheries project has been proposed but has not been developed yet Demographics editThe island has a population of 19 330 spread across 78 villages Misima is the most heavily populated island in the Louisiade Archipelago By area it is the third largest after Vanatinai and Rossel Island Since the mines have closed there are signs of population decrease people are moving to Alotau for jobs Urbanization edit The main town of the island and the seat of the district is Bwagaoia located on the southeast corner of the island Other villages are Hinauta Boiou Gulewa Bagilina Liak Siagara Eiaus on the eastern north coast reachable by road from Bwagaoia Gulewa and Ewena on the western north coast and Bwagabwaga Gaibobo and Alhoga on the south coast 5 Cities edit Village Name Ward Population Coordinates Bwagaoia 03 Bwagaoia 2680 10 40 45 S 152 50 47 E 10 679228 S 152 846404 E 10 679228 152 846404 Balmatana 30 Baimatana 323 10 40 25 S 152 51 59 E 10 673647 S 152 866527 E 10 673647 152 866527 Hinauta 04 Hinauta 509 10 39 49 S 152 51 38 E 10 663595 S 152 860578 E 10 663595 152 860578 Lobwa 31 Lobwa 285 10 39 09 S 152 51 10 E 10 652514 S 152 852762 E 10 652514 152 852762 Gigig 05 Kaubwaga 627 10 38 53 S 152 51 04 E 10 64805 S 152 851101 E 10 64805 152 851101 Kaubwaga 05 Kaubwaga 504 10 38 47 S 152 50 53 E 10 646257 S 152 848137 E 10 646257 152 848137 Boiou 06 Boiou 640 10 37 39 S 152 48 54 E 10 627445 S 152 814962 E 10 627445 152 814962 Ginul 06 Boiou 262 10 37 34 S 152 48 17 E 10 62614 S 152 804615 E 10 62614 152 804615 Hopitkahin 07 Siagara East 862 10 36 39 S 152 47 30 E 10 610698 S 152 791768 E 10 610698 152 791768 Kalotawa 08 Siagara West 1024 10 37 44 S 152 45 59 E 10 629022 S 152 766261 E 10 629022 152 766261 Gulewa 09 Gulewa 768 10 38 16 S 152 44 17 E 10 6379 S 152 738 E 10 6379 152 738 Kakamwa 09 Gulewa 329 10 38 24 S 152 43 22 E 10 64 S 152 7227 E 10 64 152 7227 Liak 10 Liak 1523 10 39 00 S 152 42 11 E 10 65 S 152 703 E 10 65 152 703 Bagilina 12 Bagilina 636 10 39 18 S 152 40 29 E 10 655126 S 152 674738 E 10 655126 152 674738 Lalama 12 Bagilina 578 10 38 58 S 152 39 23 E 10 649457 S 152 656382 E 10 649457 152 656382 Ewena 13 Ewena 516 10 37 19 S 152 33 36 E 10 622 S 152 56 E 10 622 152 56 Ebora 14 Ebora 679 10 37 46 S 152 31 30 E 10 62956 S 152 524873 E 10 62956 152 524873 Bwana 32 Bwana 138 10 39 40 S 152 35 18 E 10 661051 S 152 588471 E 10 661051 152 588471 Bwagabwaga 15 Bwagabwaga 535 10 41 10 S 152 42 39 E 10 686105 S 152 710968 E 10 686105 152 710968 Gigimwani 16 Awaibi 501 10 41 54 S 152 41 42 E 10 698386 S 152 695093 E 10 698386 152 695093 Awaibi 16 Awaibi 252 10 42 08 S 152 42 08 E 10 702186 S 152 70222 E 10 702186 152 70222 Bwaeyam 16 Awaibi 1010 10 42 26 S 152 42 54 E 10 707154 S 152 71499 E 10 707154 152 71499 Alhoga 17 Alhoga 379 10 42 49 S 152 44 31 E 10 713743 S 152 741871 E 10 713743 152 741871 Lohola 17 Alhoga 300 10 42 59 S 152 45 19 E 10 716368 S 152 75533 E 10 716368 152 75533 Mwana Tribes of Eaus River 18 Eaus North 888 10 40 30 S 152 45 11 E 10 675 S 152 753 E 10 675 152 753 Eaus Palapa 19 Eaus South 980 10 41 46 S 152 45 56 E 10 696203 S 152 765643 E 10 696203 152 765643 Abalouna 19 Eaus South 564 10 41 48 S 152 46 41 E 10 696653 S 152 777925 E 10 696653 152 777925 Quartz Mountain Misima mines 02 Narian 222 10 41 S 152 47 E 10 69 S 152 79 E 10 69 152 79 Narian 02 Narian 836 10 41 25 S 152 48 44 E 10 690259 S 152 812086 E 10 690259 152 812086 Gaibobo 20 Gaibobo 731 10 41 31 S 152 49 13 E 10 691979 S 152 820156 E 10 691979 152 820156 Religion edit About half the population identified themselves as members of a Christian church see Religion in Papua New Guinea for more info Language edit The main language of the island is also called Misiman though many residents speak English and also Tok Pisin as a third language Culture editThis section is empty You can help by adding to it August 2017 Education editBwagaoia Primary School Misima Secondary School formally Misima High School Siagara Primary School Liak Primary School Patnai Primary School Bwagabwaga Transportation editMisima Airport Closed Only Means of transportation out of the island is by sea News article https www postcourier com pg png air suspends all flight to and from misima airport Update 3Million KINA airport upgrade https www thenational com pg k3 million for misima airport upgrade locals still traveling by sea date 3rd of January 2024 Misima has a working airport IATA MIS ICAO AYMM four flights weekly to the mainland POM via Alotau through Airlines of Papua New Guinea and one charter run by Porgera Joint Venture a high school grades 7 12 a small market a few small stores and a clinic hospital a post office all of which are located in Bwagaoia There are ferries from Alotau which service Misima Island costing around K100 update 2024 K150 K200 and taking 17 17 19 hours Flora and fauna editThe following mammals are present on Misima Island Polynesian rat introduced Wild boar introduced Eastern common cuscus Sugar glider Grassland rat Eastern rat Panniet naked backed fruit bat Island tube nosed fruit bat Small flying fox Common blossom bat Temminck s trident bat Spurred roundleaf bat Fawn leaf nosed bat Diadem leaf nosed bat Smaller horseshoe bat Misima bat Little bent wing bat Miniopterus macrocneme Great bent winged bat Common bent wing bat Angulate pipistrelle Other animals Copiula oxyrhinaReferences edit LLG map Nelson Hank 1976 Black white amp gold goldmining in Papua New Guinea 1878 1930 Canberra Australian National University Press p 28 ISBN 0708104878 Nelson p 28 Official Web Site of the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea permanent dead link http rspas anu edu au lmg masp workingpapers 05 MIL 05 16 01 pdf bare URL PDF External links editMine Report Misima Island News at MisimaIsland com 1 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Misima Island amp oldid 1193977246, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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