Bismarck Archipelago

The Bismarck Archipelago is a group of islands off the northeastern coast of New Guinea in the western Pacific Ocean and is part of the Islands Region of Papua New Guinea.

History

The first inhabitants of the archipelago arrived around 33,000 years ago from New Guinea, either by boats across the Bismarck Sea or via a temporary land bridge, created by an uplift in the Earth's crust. Later arrivals included the Lapita people.

The first European to visit these islands was Dutch explorer Willem Schouten in 1616.^[1][2] The islands remained unsettled by western Europeans until they were annexed as part of the German protectorate of German New Guinea in 1884. The area was named in honour of the Chancellor Otto von Bismarck.

On 13 March 1888, a volcano erupted on Ritter Island causing a megatsunami. Almost 100% of the volcano fell in to the ocean leaving a small crater lake.^[3]

Following the outbreak of World War I, the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force seized the islands in 1914 and Australia later received a League of Nations mandate for the islands. They remained under Australian administration — interrupted only by Japanese occupation during World War II — until Papua New Guinea became independent in 1975.

Geography

The Bismarck Archipelago includes mostly volcanic islands with a total land area of 49,700 km² (19,189 sq mi). Islands are grouped here according to administrative province:

The Bismarck Archipelago.

Provinces of Papua New Guinea.

• Manus Province (see 9 on the map)
  • Admiralty Islands, group of 18 islands including:
    • Manus Island, main island
    • Los Negros Island
    • Lou Island
    • Ndrova Island
    • Tong Island
    • Baluan Island
    • Pak Island
    • Purdy Islands
    • Rambutyo Island
    • St Andrews Islands
  • Western Islands with
    • Aua Island
    • Hermit Islands
    • Kaniet Islands
    • Ninigo Islands
    • Wuvulu Island

• New Ireland Province (12)
  • New Ireland or Niu Ailan, main island
  • New Hanover or Lavongai
  • Saint Matthias Group
  • Tabar Group
  • Lihir Group
  • Tanga Group
  • Feni Islands
  • Dyaul Island

• East New Britain Province (4)
  • New Britain or Niu Briten, main island
  • Duke of York Islands

• West New Britain Province (18)
  • New Britain or Niu Briten, main island
  • Vitu Islands

• Morobe Province (11)
  • Umboi Island
  • Tolokiwa Island
  • Sakar Island
  • Ritter Island
  • Malai Island
  • Tuam Island

• Madang Province (8)
  • Long Island
  • Crown Island
  • Karkar Island
  • Bagabag Island
  • Manam

• East Sepik Province (5)
  • Schouten Islands

The passage of water between the islands of New Britain and New Ireland is called St. George's Channel after St. George's Channel in the British Isles between Wales and Ireland.

Notes

Bibliography

• Firth, Stewart (1983). New Guinea Under the Germans. Carlton, Australia: Melbourne University Press. ISBN 0522842208.
• Howe, K. R., Robert C. Kiste, Brij V. Lal, eds. (1994). Tides of History: The Pacific Islands in the Twentieth Century. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0824815971.
• King, David et al. (1982). Papua New Guinea Atlas: A Nation in Transition. Bathurst, Australia: R. Brown and the University of Papua New Guinea. ISBN 0909197148.
• Moore, Clive (2003). New Guinea: Crossing Boundaries and History. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0824824857.
• Ryan, Peter, ed. (1972). Encyclopedia of Papua New Guinea. 3 volumes; Vol I: A - K, maps, black and white illustrations, xv + 588pp. Vol II: l - Z, maps, black and white illustrations, 589-1231pp. Vol III: Index, folding colour map in rear pocket, map, colour illustration, v + 83pp. Carlton, Australia: Melbourne University Press. ISBN 9780522840254.

External links

• about the provinces

Coordinates: 5°00′S 150°00′E / 5°S 150°E / -5; 150