Sideia Island

Sideia Island
Nickname: St. Bonaventure Island
Sideia Island
Geography
Location Oceania
Coordinates 10°35′19″S 150°52′55″E / 10.58861°S 150.88194°E / -10.58861; 150.88194Coordinates: 10°35′19″S 150°52′55″E / 10.58861°S 150.88194°E / -10.58861; 150.88194[1]
Archipelago Louisiade Archipelago
Adjacent bodies of water Solomon Sea
Total islands 1
Major islands
  • Sideia     
Area 101.3 km2 (39.1 sq mi)
Length 13.5 km (8.39 mi)
Width 15.5 km (9.63 mi)
Coastline 150 km (93 mi)
Highest elevation 377 m (1,237 ft)
Highest point Mount Kipoki
Administration
Province  Milne Bay
Island Group Samarai Islands
Island Group Sideia Islands
Ward split
Largest settlement
Sideia
(population 400)
Demographics
Demonym Papuan people
Population 1890 (2014)
Pop. density 18.66 /km2 (48.33 /sq mi)
Ethnic groups Papauans, Austronesians, Melanesians.
Additional information
Time zone
Official website www.ncdc.gov.pg
ISO Code = PG-MBA

Sideia Island is an island in the Louisiade Archipelago in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.

Administration

The island is part of the following Wards:

All Wards belong to Bwanabwana Rural Local Level Government Area LLG, Samarai-Murua District, which are in Milne Bay Province.[2]

History

Sideia Island was sighted by Europeans when the Spanish expedition of Luís Vaez de Torres arrived on 18 July 1606.[3] Their ship, El-Morata anchored at Oba Bay in the south west, that they then named Puerto San Francisco. Torres named the island St. Bonaventure.

The mission in that island was established on April 22, 1932 by the Australian Province of the French Congregation Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC). By 1942, it was fully developed and became the base for other missions in the nearby islands. Many facilities were set up to provide education, medical assistance and ways of living to the native of the area.[4]

Geography

Sideia is located East of the end of New Guinea mainland. Its area is 101.3 km². The island is part of the Sideia group, itself a part of Samarai Islands of the Louisiade Archipelago. It is located between Sariba Island and Basilaki Island. The island of Sideia is quite near Alotau and can be reached in less than three hours by motor boat.

Demographics

The population of 1890 is living in 30 villages across the island. The most important one, and where the dock is located, is Sideia. The other villages: Lamoasi, Mwalotakilili, Dumalawe, Paka, Gugui, Gadogadowa, Oba, Memeali, Kunubala, Gabutau, Makabweabweau, Nasauwai, Tabuara, Liliki, Kalu, Gotai, Wanahaua, Sekuku, Waiyau, Goteia, Kaula, Kubi, Boikalakalawa, Namoa, Dulaona, Balagatete, Tegerauna [5]

Economy

The islanders, are farmers as opposed to eastern Louisiade Archipelago islanders. they grow Sago, Taro, and Yams for crops.[6]

Transportation

There is a dock at Sideia.

Flora and Fauna

The following mammals are on the island:

The following fish are near the island:[7]

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/17/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.