Louisiade Archipelago
- MODIS image
- date unknown
The Louisiade Archipelago (1,600 km²) is located in the southwestern regions of the Milne Bay province, consisting of two large volcanic island-barrier reef complexes and numerous smaller island groups, islets, atolls and reefs. The archipelago is sometimes extended westwards to include all those islands that lie off the southeastern tip of New Guinea — these can be considered as outliers of the archipelago. In all, if outliers are included, the archipelago spans east to west for over a distance of 420 km and for 105 km north to south, occupying an area of some 26,000 km². It is washed by the Solomon Sea on the north and by the Coral Sea on the south.
Vanatinai
The main component of the group is the large island-barrier reef complex that contains the islands of Vanatinai (Sudest/Tagula), Pana Tinani and the smaller islands of the Calvados Chain. The islands are volcanic in origin, consisting of hilly to mountainous terrain with sharp ridges and deep ravines. Most are heavily forested. The entire formation measures slightly over 200 km east to west, with a northeast to southwest width of up to 50 km. The island of Vanatinai (also known as Sudest or Tagula) is by far the largest island of the island-barrier reef system. With an area of 867 km² it measures 71 km in length (southeast to northwest) and has maximum widths of between 15 km (in the east) and 6 km (in the west). It rises to a height of 806 m at Mt. Riu.
Pana Tinani, located 3 km north from the northwestern tip of Vanatinai, is the second largest island within the Vanatinai lagoon, measuring 18 km in length and averaging 4 km in width, covering an area of 78 km². The island is hilly, rising to 338 m at Mt. Guyuba.
The Calvados Chain of islands runs in an easterly direction from Panasia (off Pana Tinani) to Hemenahei for around 80 km. Its main islands include: Pana Vara Vara, Pana Rai Rai, Utian Panarora, Pana Udu Udi, Gulewa, Moturina, Ululina, Venariwa, Bonna Wan, Bagaman, Bobo Eina, Pana Numara, Yaruman, Panangaribu, Panantanian, Pana Krusima, Kuanak, Gigila, and Pana Wina — the largest island of the Calvados Chain, measuring 5 km by 4 km. The islands rise steeply from the sea, and are either thickly forested or vegetated with grasslands, and generally rise to heights of between 90 and 300 m, with many being surrounded by their own reef systems and lagoons. In addition to the high islands there are also numerous low coral islets and reefs in the area.
Rossel
The island of Rossel (Yela), its extensive lagoon and surrounding barrier reef forms the second largest component of the Louisiade Archipelago, measuring 88 km in length and up to 20 km in width. The island of Rossel itself, located at the eastern end of the lagoon measures 34 km by 11 km and has an area of 262 km². The entire formation is situated 14 km north of the Vanatinai complex. The island has a hilly interior rising to 838 m at Mt. Rossel; coastlines in the south are often steep and rocky, while those in the north are lower and lined with mangroves.
Misima
At 202 km², the third major member of the Louisiade Archipelago is the 40 km by 10 km island of Misima, located off the northwestern end of Vanatinai's barrier reef. Like the other large islands of the group, it is mountainous and heavily forested; it contains the highest point found in the archipelago — Mt. Koia Tau, which rises to a height of 1,036 m.
Other islands
Other members of the archipelago include the Deboyne Islands: Panaeati (30.32 km²), Panapompom (7.72 km²), Brooker (1.08 km²) and Ware (1.68 km²), the Renard Islands, Conflict Islands, Alcester Islands, and the Bonvouloir Islands. Located to the west of Vanatinai is a region containing numerous large and small reefs, such as Long Reef and the Anchorage Reefs; many small islets and cays are located in the area.
image: MODIS rapid response project at nasa/goddard space flight center.
