Vella Lavella
 | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Pacific Ocean Bu |
| Coordinates | 7°44′S 156°38′E / 7.733°S 156.633°E |
| Archipelago | Solomon Islands |
| Area | 628.9 km2 (242.8 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 790 m (2590 ft) |
| Highest point | Mount Tambisala |
| Administration | |
Solomon Islands | |
| province | Western Province |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 9106 (1999) |
Vella Lavella is an island in
Environment
The island of Vella Lavella is located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. To the north is the island of Choiseul, to the northwest is the island of Shortland, and to the southeast is the island of New Georgia. Vella Lavella is a volcanic island, surrounded in some places by a coral reef. The island contains volcanic cones and one thermal spring. The highest elevation is Mount Tambisala at 790 metres (2,590 ft). The volcano Nonda (the youngest volcano of the island), has an elevation of 750 meters and is considered active, although it has never erupted in modern times. The smaller rivers running from the mountains to the coast allow irrigated horticulture to the inhabitants who live almost exclusively on the coast. Vella Lavella is mainly vegetated with lowland rainforest. The climate is wet and tropical, and the island is prone to earthquakes and cyclones.
North-west Vella Lavella Important Bird Area
An area of 14,641 ha in the north-west of the island has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports populations of white-winged fantails, Kolombangara monarchs and endemic Vella Lavella white-eyes. The main threat facing the site is logging.[1]
History
Painted potshards found during excavations date back to an age of 2,000 to 3,000 years.
The Bilua language spoken on the island belongs to the Papuan languages, while the other languages of the Solomon Islands belong to the Austronesian languages. Therefore, archaeologists suspect the immigration of a people who did not come from the Melanesian settlement area.
On March 15, 1893 Vella Lavella was declared part of the British Solomon Islands protectorate.
The island was occupied by the
Since 1978, the island has been part of the independent state of the Solomon Islands.
Notable local people
- Milner Tozaka was elected to the National Parliament of Solomon Islands to represent the North Vella Lavella Constituency on 5 April 2006.[4] He is the current Foreign Minister in the cabinet of Prime Minister Rick Douglas Hou;[5] he has previously served as the Minister for Public Service.
Notes
- Footnotes
- ^ "North-west Vella Lavella". BirdLife Data Zone. BirdLife International. 2010. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
- ^ Rottman, Japanese Army in World War II, p. 68
- ^ The TV series Baa, Baa, Black Sheep renamed the island "Vella La Cava."
- ^ "The Hon. Milna Tozaka". National Parliament of Solomon Islands. Retrieved November 6, 2008.
- ^ Gary Hatigeva (5 January 2015). "Malaita Island". Tozaka meets Fijian Counterpart. The Island Sun (Solomon Islands). Retrieved 22 March 2014.
- References
- McGee, William L. (2001). "Occupation of Vella Lavella". The Solomons Campaigns, 1942-1943: From Guadalcanal to Bougainville, Pacific War Turning Point, Volume 2 (Amphibious Operations in the South Pacific in WWII). Napa, CA, USA: BMC Publications. ISBN 978-0-9701678-7-3.
- ISBN 0-7858-1307-1.
Gallery
-
Taken on 10 December 1943, this photo shows Vought F4U-1 Corsair aircraft ofVMF-124, Grumman F6F-3 Hellcats, a Douglas SBD Dauntless, and RNZAF Curtiss Kittyhawk Mk.IV (P-40F) at Barakoma Airfield -
Vella Lavella girl with painted face and shell ear ornaments, c. 1900
External links
- [1] overhead images show what may be the remains of the Marines' airfield.
