Makira
Geography | |
---|---|
Location | Solomon Islands |
Coordinates | 10°33′04″S 161°49′41″E / 10.55111°S 161.82806°E |
Area | 3,190 km2 (1,230 sq mi) |
Highest elevation | 4,101 ft (1250 m) |
Highest point | Unnamed Point |
Administration | |
Solomon Islands | |
Province | Makira-Ulawa Province |
Largest settlement | Kirakira |
Demographics | |
Population | 55,126 (2020) |
The island of Makira (also known as San Cristobal and San Cristóbal) is the largest island of Makira-Ulawa Province in Solomon Islands. It is third most populous of the Solomon Islands after Malaita and Guadalcanal, with a population of 55,126 as of 2020. The island is located east of Guadalcanal and south of Malaita. The largest and capital city is Kirakira.
History
The first recorded sighting by Europeans of Makira was by the Spanish expedition of Álvaro de Mendaña in June 1568. More precisely the sighting and also landing in San Cristobal was due to a local voyage that set out from Guadalcanal in a small boat, in the accounts the brigantine Santiago, commanded by Alférez Hernando Enriquez and having Hernán Gallego as pilot. They charted it as San Cristóbal.[1][2]
Education
The Stuyvenberg Rural Training Centre is a rural boarding centre of vocational education by the Society of Mary, located on the north coast of eastern Makira.[3]
Environment
A 182,550 ha tract of largely forested land encompassing the eastern part of the island has been identified by
Birds
Significant birds include
Other biota
Five species of restricted-range bats have been recorded, as well as a possibly new species of giant rat (Solomys). There are two species of endemic fig (Ficus).[4]
Notable people
- Doreen Kuper - former Honorary Consul to New Zealand
- John Saunana - novelist, poet, and politician
Gallery
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Some of the local houses next to the beach at Kirakira
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A Kirakira beach at sunset
References
- ^ Sharp, Andrew The discovery of the Pacific Islands Oxford, 1960, pp.46,47.
- ^ Brand, Donald D. The Pacific Basin: A History of its Geographical Explorations The American Geographical Society, New York, 1967, p.133.
- ^ SOLOMON ISLANDS. Study to Support the Development of a National Skills Training Plan (Report). Washington: East Asia and Pacific Region. Human Development Sector Unit. The World Bank. March 2007. Report No. 39317-SB.
- ^ a b c "East Makira". BirdLife Data Zone. BirdLife International. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
External links
- Media related to Makira at Wikimedia Commons