Misima Island



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

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.

Politics
The island is within the Samarai Murua District.

Geography
The island measures 40 km by 10 km and has an area of 214,5 km². It is located some 20 km north of the northwest extreme of the barrier reef of Vanatinai at Isu Raua Raua Island, and 80 km northwest of Vanatinai Island itself.

Misima is mountainous and densely forested. Mt. Koia Tau, at a height of 1,036 meters, 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.[4] 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).

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.

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 (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:
 * Polynesian rat (introduced)
 * Wild boar (introduced)
 * Eastern common cuscus
 * Sugar glider
 * Grassland rat
 * Eastern rat
 * Panniet naked-backed fruit bat
 * Island tube-nosed fruit bat
 * Small flying fox
 * Common blossom bat
 * Temminck's trident bat
 * Spurred roundleaf bat
 * Fawn leaf-nosed bat
 * Diadem leaf-nosed bat
 * Smaller horseshoe bat
 * Misima bat
 * Little bent-wing bat
 * Miniopterus macrocneme
 * Great bent-winged bat
 * Common bent-wing bat
 * Angulate pipistrelle

Other animals:
 * Copiula oxyrhina