Malekula
| Malakula | |
|---|---|
| Island | |
 |
|
 Location within Vanuatu |
|
| Coordinates: 16°15′S 167°30′E / 16.250°S 167.500°ECoordinates: 16°15′S 167°30′E / 16.250°S 167.500°E | |
| Country | Vanuatu |
| Province | Malampa Province |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2,041 km2 (788 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 879 m (2,884 ft) |
| Population (2009) | |
| • Total | 22,934 |
| • Density | 11/km2 (29/sq mi) |
| Time zone | VUT (UTC+11) |
Malakula Island (coordinates 16°18′S 167°30′E / 16.30°S 167.50°E), also spelled Malekula, is the second-largest island in the nation of Vanuatu, in the Pacific Ocean region of Melanesia.
It is separated from the islands of Espiritu Santo and Malo by the Bougainville Strait. Lakatoro, capital of Malampa Province, is situated on its northeastern shore and is the largest settlement in the island. On the northeastern side of the island there is a group of islands called Small Islands, amongst them (from N to S) Vao, Atchin, Wala (island), Rano (island), Norsup, Uripiv and Uri (island). Off the southwestern coast is Tomman Island, in the south Akhamb Island and at the southeastern point the Maskelynes Islands are found, among them Sakao Island and Uliveo.
It has a maximum elevation of 879 m. It is called Mt. Liambele. In 1768, Louis Antoine de Bougainville gave his name to the straits which separate Malakula from Santo.
Discovered by the Spanish expedition of Pedro Fernández de Quirós in 1606.
During 1914 and 1915 the British anthropologist John Layard lived on the island taking anthropological notes as well as phononographic and photographic records during his fieldwork. On his return to Britain he donated copies of the more than 400 photographs on plates to the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Cambridge.
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Wikipedia