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.

It is located 200 km southeast of New Guinea, stretching over more than and spread over an ocean area of between the Solomon Sea to the north and the Coral Sea to the south. The aggregate land area of the islands is about , with Vanatinai (Sudest) beingness the largest.

Rogeia (Logea), Samarai and Sariba lie closest to New Guinea, while Misima, Vanatinai, and Rossel islands lie further east.

History The islands were discovered by a Spanish expedition led by Luis Váez de Torres in 1606, that was part of the Fernandez de Quiros fleet which had sailed from South America in search of Australia. The Torres expedition visited various islands including Basilaki Island, which he named San Buenaventura in July 1606. It is possible that Malay and Chinese sailors also visited the islands earlier. More than a century later, in 1768, Louis Antoine de Bougainville visited the islands and named them for Louis XV, the king of France. Visits were also paid by Admiral Bruni d'Entrecasteaux in 1793 and Captain Owen Stanley in 1849.

The 1942 Battle of Coral Sea was fought nearby, after Japanese occupation in the same year. The Deboyne Islands were the site of the 1942 Raids on Deboyne.

Rain forests The islands have a moist tropical climate, and are largely covered with tropical moist broadleaf forests. The Louisiade Archipelago rain forests form a distinct ecoregion, and are home to a number of endemic species, including several endemic trees (in genera Pandanus, Diospyros, and Hopea), as well as five endemic frog species, two endemic lizard species, and five endemic bird species. The Louisiade flowerpecker (Dicaeum nitidum), Louisiade pitta (Erythropitta meeki), Tagula butcherbird (Cracticus louisiadensis), Tagula honeyeater (Microptilotis vicina), and white-chinned myzomela (Myzomela albigula) are endemic, and the Louisiade white-eye (Zosterops griseotinctus) is a near-endemic. There are 24 native mammal species, including 18 species of bats and several rodents; these include the Island tube-nosed fruit bat (Nyctimene major), Panniet naked-backed fruit bat (Dobsonia pannietensis), and St. Aignan's trumpet-eared bat (Kerivoula agnella).

Government The archipelago is divided into the Local Level Government (LLG) areas Bwanabwana Rural (western part, with Basilaki), Louisiade Rural (central part, with Misima), and Yaleyamba (eastern part, with Rossel and Vanatinai islands). The LLG areas are part of Samarai-Murua District of Milne Bay. The seat of the Louisiade Rural LLG is Bwagaoia on Misima Island, the population center of the archipelago.http://www.pngec.gov.pg/ElectionInfo2007/PollSched-MilneBay.pdf The seat of the Yaleyamba is changed every couple of years between Rambuso and Jingo (Rossell). The seat of the Bwanabwana was Samarai from the Louisiade archipelago, but was recently transferred to the mainland of Papua New Guinea to the city of Alotau.

Islands The Louisiade Archipelago consists of the following island groups and islands:

Island Capital Other Cities Area Populationkm2sq miBentley Islands Anagusa Nare 122Anagusa Anagusa 112Mudge Nare 10Bonvouloir Islands 0East 0Hastings 0Strathord 0Calvados Chain Pana Wina Motorina, Bagaman, Hemenahei 3276Bagaman Bagaman 264Bobo Eina 0Bonna Wan 0Gigila Nogui 121Gilia 0Gulewa Gulewa 18Hemenahei 0Kuwanak Kuwanak 170Mabneian 0Motorina Riman Bay Tawara, Mabaraboraboa 595Nigaho Nigaho 226North Leiga 0Other Burnett Ehiki, Panua Keikeisa 0Pana Krusima 0Pana Numara Hoba Bay 183Pana Rora 0Pana Udu Udi 0Pana Varavara 0Pana Wina Bomalou Panambari, Boiama Point 456Panangaribu 0Panasia 0Panatanian 0Sabari Hekampan Tandeyai, Hebenahine, Maho 708Sloss 0South Leiga 0Taifaur 0Ululina Ululina 5Utian Utian 514Venariwa Venariwa 16Yakimoan 0Yaruman 0Conflict Group Panasesa Irai, Lunn 30Auriroa 0Gabugabutau 0Ginara 0Irai Irai 20Itamarina 0Lunn 0Moniara 0Other KolaviaMadiboiboi, Lutmatavi 0Panaboal 0Panarakuum 0Panasesa Panasesa 10Quesal 0Tupit 0Deboyne Islands Bwaganati Nulia 2700Losai 0Nibub 0Nivani Nivani 20Pana Uya Wana 0Panaeati Bwaganati Maggiau, Palualual, Siakeu, Namati, Panakakamwa, Nulia Wharf, Lebwalebwal 2080Panapompom Nulia Galowawaisana, Panaewau 600Passage 0Rara 0Duchateau Islands 0Jomard Islands 0Kukuluba 0Montemont Islands 0Pana Bobai Ana 0Pana Rura Wara 0Dumoulin Islands 0Ana Karu Karua 0Baiiri 0Duperre Islands Punawan 10Duperre 0Punawan Punawan 10East Deboyne Islands 0Basses Group 50Bushy Islets 50Mabui 70Pana Sagusagu 20Redlick Islets 0Engineer Islands Skelton Watts 1200Bright 0Butchart 0Button 0Deedes 0Flat 0Good 0Haszard 0Hummock Tewatewa 105Messum 0Pender 0Powell 0Skelton Naruaruari Koialia, Waiaku, Digaigaia 375Slade SamoaTubetube 245Watts Gegadali Taeaknabululu, Kwaraiwa 475Laseinie Islands Dawson 245Dawson Koyagaugau 245Hardman 0Kagawan 0Keaawan 0Misima Islands Bwagaoia 19330Gigira 0Managun 0Misima Bwagaoia Baimatana, Hinauta, Kaubwaga, Boiou, Siagara, Kalotawa, Gulewa, Mwana, Liak, Panataval, Bagilina, Manihuna, Ewena, Ebora, Bwagabwaga, Alhoga, Eaus, Gaibobo, Narian 19330Daloloia Group 0Pana Tinani Islands Bwailahina Kabagi-bagi 1764Daddahai Dadahai 834Hevaisi 41Nimoa Soluwo Boiminusi, Woos, Galanga Beach 6395Osasai 30Pana Tinani Bwailahina Hobuk, Hauagili, Hessessai Bay, Buvara Bay, Bounce Point, Imadi Bay, Gawn Point, Hati Lawi Bay, Heihuti Bay, Bonawi Point 527Sibumbum 0Wanim Bunbun 400Yeina Kabagi-bagi Araeda, Buwo, Jolandan 407Renard Islands Kimuta 617Baiwa 0Kimuta Awa Atuatua 617Manuga Reef 0Niva Beno 0Oreia 0Rossel Islands Rossel 5100Adele Islet 0Diama 1Other Heron 7Pocklington Reef 0Rossel Jinjo Damunu, Yonga Bay, Mbuwo, Morpa, Wulunga Bay, Pum, Pwepwo, Piniga, Abeleti, Vyukwa, N’Jaru, Wale, Saman, Pambwa 5000Wule Wule 92Samarai Islands Samarai Basilaki 8200Arch Islands Nasa Rua Rua 0Doini Doini 30Tuyam 0Gonubalabala Ranger station 0Logea Kasabanalua Kumikuku, Dabali, Pota 1004Deka Deka 0Bonarua Hili Hili 0Kwato Kwato Isuhina 66Samarai Samarai 460Ebuma Evennett Mansion 21Gesila 19Dagadaga 1Kwai Ama 0Beika 0Galahi Galahi 20Lesimano 0Igwali Igwali Naba Riaria, Ga-Uri 10Kui Kui 5Ito 10Sariba Sidudu Sauasauaga, Magehau, Sebuluna 1880Sideia Sideia Oba, Gotai, Gadogadowa, Sekuku, Dulauna, Tegerauna 1890Populai Margaret Ville 15Dinana 0Buiari Weitoa 500Basilaki YokowaHabani 1883Kitai Bai 0Kitai Katoa Maragum 17Kitai Katu 10Kitai Lilivea 190Kitai Bona Bona Kibou 10Castori IsletsBaia Baia Karona 0Gado-Gadoa 1Wasima 0Other Sripkunui Island, Nasariri Island, Didigilo Island, Grant Island, Shortland Island 0Torlesse Islands 0Pananiu 0Tinolan 0Vanatinai Islands Rambuso Tagula, Donuwo, Bololo 3360Boboa 0Iyen Iyen 102Pana Man 0Vanatinai Rambuso Tagula, Eden, Mitin, Edwahi, Griffin Point, Tarangia, Lajamare, Donuwo, Siri Point, Buiawe, Bololo, Emeli, Pamela, Madaua, Jelewaga 3257Venama 0Wari Islands Wari 926Imbert 0Kosman Reef Kosman Nabaina 100Lebrun Islands 0Long Reef Lejeune 100Other 0Quessant 0Sable 0Siga 0Stuers Islands 0Wari Wari 726Louisiade Archipelago Bwagaoia Samarai, Rossel 47000

See also List of islands of Papua New Guinea Louisiade Rural LLG

References

External links

Eusoils.jrc.it: detailed geology/soils map (1:1.000.000)