Misima Island

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File:Karta PG Louisiade isl.PNG
Location within Louisiade Archipelago
File:Misima Island.png
Misima Island from space
File:Misima Mine.png
Misima Mine and Bwagaoia from space

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

History

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.[1] By March 1889, eighty men were on the island digging for gold, and a storekeeper had set up a business.[2]

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.[3]

Politics

The island is within the Samarai Murua District.

Geography

The island measures Script error: No such module "convert". and has an area of Script error: No such module "convert".. It is located some Script error: No such module "convert". north of the northwest extreme of the barrier reef of Vanatinai at Isu Raua Raua Island, and Script error: No such module "convert". northwest of Vanatinai Island itself.

Misima is mountainous and densely forested. Mt. Koia Tau, at a height of Script error: No such module "convert"., 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. 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

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

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

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

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).[4]

Cities

Village Name Ward Population Coordinates
Bwagaoia 03 Bwagaoia 2680 Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Balmatana 30 Baimatana 323 Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Hinauta 04 Hinauta 509 Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Lobwa 31 Lobwa 285 Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Gigig 05 Kaubwaga 627 Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Kaubwaga 05 Kaubwaga 504 Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Boiou 06 Boiou 640 Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Ginul 06 Boiou 262 Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Hopitkahin 07 Siagara East 862 Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Kalotawa 08 Siagara West 1024 Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Gulewa 09 Gulewa 768 Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Kakamwa 09 Gulewa 329 Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Liak 10 Liak 1523 Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Bagilina 12 Bagilina 636 Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Lalama 12 Bagilina 578 Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Ewena 13 Ewena 516 Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Ebora 14 Ebora 679 Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Bwana 32 Bwana 138 Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Bwagabwaga 15 Bwagabwaga 535 Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Gigimwani 16 Awaibi 501 Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Awaibi 16 Awaibi 252 Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Bwaeyam 16 Awaibi 1010 Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Alhoga 17 Alhoga 379 Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Lohola 17 Alhoga 300 Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Mwana (Tribes of Eaus River) 18 Eaus North 888 Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Eaus (Palapa) 19 Eaus South 980 Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Abalouna 19 Eaus South 564 Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Quartz Mountain (Misima mines) 02 Narian 222 Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Narian 02 Narian 836 Script error: No such module "Coordinates".
Gaibobo 20 Gaibobo 731 Script error: No such module "Coordinates".

Religion

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

Language

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

Culture

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Education

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

Transportation

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 (Template:Comma separated entries) (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

The following mammals are present on Misima Island:

Other animals:

References

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  1. ↑ Nelson, Hank (1976) Black, white & gold: goldmining in Papua New Guinea, 1878-1930, Canberra, Australian National University Press, p.28. Template:ISBN
  2. ↑ Nelson, p.28
  3. ↑ Official Web Site of the Prime Minister of Papua New GuineaScript error: No such module "Unsubst".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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External links

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